GB2083853A

GB2083853A - Edge rail for tiling

Info

Publication number: GB2083853A
Application number: GB8118433A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-07-26
Filing date: 1981-06-16
Publication date: 1982-03-31
Also published as: NL190082C; BE889534A; ATA237381A; FR2487408A1; NL190082B; CH652163A5; FR2487408B1; GB2083853B; NL8102897A; AT378808B; DE8020137U1; ES259101U; IT8122540A0; IT1137918B; ES259101Y

Abstract

A generally L-sectioned edge rail for defining the edge of a tiled area has an apertured first flange 1 for embedding in a layer of tile adhesive and a second flange 2 having a thickened free end 3. The flanges 1 and 2 are mutually inclined at less than 90 DEG whilst the upper surface 31 of end 3 is inclined at an angle b of less than 15 DEG to the flange 1. It is stated that this design reduces stress in the ceramic tiles. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Edge rail for use in laying floor and wall coverings The present invention relates to an edge rail for use in laying floor and wall coverings particularly for laying floor and wall tiles made of ceramic material. The edge rail comprises a securing shank less than 1.5 mm thick, which is rectangular in cross-section and is provided with apertures, and an end shank substantially at right angles thereto.

In particular, for laying ceramic tiles by the thinbed process, wherein layers of glue or mortar are applied in a predetermined, relatively thin layer to the appropriately smooth base, the thin design for the securing shank is of special significance since this shank has to be accommodated in the available layer height so that no increase in height of the tile structure results from inserting the edge rails.

An edge rail is known wherein the relatively short end shank, which corresponds substantially to the height of conventional ceramic tiles, is designed so as to be much thicker than the securing shank. On the one hand, this relatively wide design has optical advantages and, on the other hand, this thick end shank is to allow for possible stresses which may occur when using such rails, for example as a seal on expansion joints in floors. However, such a design for the end shank requires a relatively large amount of material and this has a direct influence upon the costs of the rails which are generally made of brass. It has been shown, moreover, that, when laying ceramic material on a floor, the edges of the tiles which are situated nearest the end shank are stressed so that chipping occurs.The obvious reason for this is that force components which act diagonally in this edge region can be transmitted to the end shank or to the mortar joint respectively lying therebetween only over a relatively narrow edge region.

The object of the invention is to provide an edge rail of the initially mentioned type which may be manufactured more economically and with which the stresses mentioned in the edge region of the ceramic tiles may largely be prevented.

According to the present invention there is provided an edge rail for use in laying floor and wall coverings comprising a securing shank, less than 1.5 mm thick, which is rectangular in crosssection and is provided with apertures, and an end shank substantially at right angles thereto, characterised in that the free end of the end shank, which is designed to have substantially the same thickness as the securing shank, comprises an inwardly extending broadened portion which is substantially rectangular in cross-section.

In this case, the external side of the end shank should preferably enclose, with the securing shank, an angle which is slightly smaller than 900.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the thickness of the broadened portion is at least double the thickness of the remaining part of the end shank, assuming that the height of the broadened portion is less than half the entire height of the sealing shank.

Conducive to the object of the invention with such an edge rail is the feature that the upper side of the broadened portion is designed to rise inwardly by a small angle, preferably smaller than 150, relative to the horizontal.

With the same visible width as the known rails from the top to the end shank, such a rail requires a smaller amount of material since the remaining region of the end shank is only realized in the width of the thin securing shank.

The forces, moreover, which act upon the pertinent adjacent ceramic tile edge are diverted advantageously so that they are distributed over the mortar joint which is now to be effected in a stepped and broadened manner.

The invention will be further illustrated, by wass of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the single Figure is an enlarged perspective view of such a rail with a sectioned front view.

As illustrated the edge rail comprises a relatively thin and long securing shank 1 of constant thickness, preferably less than 1.5 mm.

This shank is provided with apertures 11, through which the adhesive or mortar respectively penetrates after the laying process.

The shorter end shank 2 has substantially the same thickness and its external side 21 encloses with the securing shank 1 an angle of less than 900, preferably 80--890. The angle a shown is therefore assumed to be 1--10".

The internal transition between the securing shank 1 and the end shank 2 is designed with a hollow groove which broadens the junction crosssection.

Formed on the free end of the end shank 2 is an inwardly extending broadened portion 3 which is substantially rectangular in cross-section and whose thickness is at least double the thickness of the remaining part of the end shank. The upper side 31 of this broadened portion 3 is preferably designed to rise inwardly by a small angle b, preferably less than 150, relative to the horizontal.

The height of this broadened portion 3 should therefore be less than half the entire height of the end shank.

1. An edge rail for use in laying floor and wall coverings comprising a securing shank, less than 1.5 mm thick, which is rectangular in crosssection and is provided with apertures, and an end shank substantially at right angles thereto, characterised in that the free end of the end shank.

which is designed to have substantially the same thickness as the securing shank, comprises an inwardly extending broadened portion which is substantially rectangular in cross-section.

2. An edge rail as claimed in claim 1, in which the external side of the end shank encloses, wit' the securing shank, an angle which is slightly smaller than 900.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Edge rail for use in laying floor and wall coverings The present invention relates to an edge rail for use in laying floor and wall coverings particularly for laying floor and wall tiles made of ceramic material. The edge rail comprises a securing shank less than 1.5 mm thick, which is rectangular in cross-section and is provided with apertures, and an end shank substantially at right angles thereto. In particular, for laying ceramic tiles by the thinbed process, wherein layers of glue or mortar are applied in a predetermined, relatively thin layer to the appropriately smooth base, the thin design for the securing shank is of special significance since this shank has to be accommodated in the available layer height so that no increase in height of the tile structure results from inserting the edge rails. An edge rail is known wherein the relatively short end shank, which corresponds substantially to the height of conventional ceramic tiles, is designed so as to be much thicker than the securing shank. On the one hand, this relatively wide design has optical advantages and, on the other hand, this thick end shank is to allow for possible stresses which may occur when using such rails, for example as a seal on expansion joints in floors. However, such a design for the end shank requires a relatively large amount of material and this has a direct influence upon the costs of the rails which are generally made of brass. It has been shown, moreover, that, when laying ceramic material on a floor, the edges of the tiles which are situated nearest the end shank are stressed so that chipping occurs.The obvious reason for this is that force components which act diagonally in this edge region can be transmitted to the end shank or to the mortar joint respectively lying therebetween only over a relatively narrow edge region. The object of the invention is to provide an edge rail of the initially mentioned type which may be manufactured more economically and with which the stresses mentioned in the edge region of the ceramic tiles may largely be prevented. According to the present invention there is provided an edge rail for use in laying floor and wall coverings comprising a securing shank, less than 1.5 mm thick, which is rectangular in crosssection and is provided with apertures, and an end shank substantially at right angles thereto, characterised in that the free end of the end shank, which is designed to have substantially the same thickness as the securing shank, comprises an inwardly extending broadened portion which is substantially rectangular in cross-section. In this case, the external side of the end shank should preferably enclose, with the securing shank, an angle which is slightly smaller than 900. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the thickness of the broadened portion is at least double the thickness of the remaining part of the end shank, assuming that the height of the broadened portion is less than half the entire height of the sealing shank. Conducive to the object of the invention with such an edge rail is the feature that the upper side of the broadened portion is designed to rise inwardly by a small angle, preferably smaller than 150, relative to the horizontal. With the same visible width as the known rails from the top to the end shank, such a rail requires a smaller amount of material since the remaining region of the end shank is only realized in the width of the thin securing shank. The forces, moreover, which act upon the pertinent adjacent ceramic tile edge are diverted advantageously so that they are distributed over the mortar joint which is now to be effected in a stepped and broadened manner. The invention will be further illustrated, by wass of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the single Figure is an enlarged perspective view of such a rail with a sectioned front view. As illustrated the edge rail comprises a relatively thin and long securing shank 1 of constant thickness, preferably less than 1.5 mm. This shank is provided with apertures 11, through which the adhesive or mortar respectively penetrates after the laying process. The shorter end shank 2 has substantially the same thickness and its external side 21 encloses with the securing shank 1 an angle of less than 900, preferably 80--890. The angle a shown is therefore assumed to be 1--10". The internal transition between the securing shank 1 and the end shank 2 is designed with a hollow groove which broadens the junction crosssection. Formed on the free end of the end shank 2 is an inwardly extending broadened portion 3 which is substantially rectangular in cross-section and whose thickness is at least double the thickness of the remaining part of the end shank. The upper side 31 of this broadened portion 3 is preferably designed to rise inwardly by a small angle b, preferably less than 150, relative to the horizontal. The height of this broadened portion 3 should therefore be less than half the entire height of the end shank. CLAIMS

3. An edge rail as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the thickness of the broadened portion is at least double the thickness of the remaining part of the end shank.

4. An edge rail as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the height of the broadened portion is less than half the entire height of the end shank.

5. An edge rail as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the upper side of the broadened portion is designed to rise inwardly by a small angle relative to the horizontal.

6. An edge rail as claimed in claim 5, in which the small angle is less than 1 5C.

7. An edge rail as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the internal transition between the end shank and the securing shank is designed with a hollow groove which broadens the junction cross-section.

8. An edge rail for use in laying floor or wall coverings, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.