GB2111901A

GB2111901A - Improvements in cutting devices for tiles

Info

Publication number: GB2111901A
Application number: GB08236199A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leslie Albert Whalley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-12-31
Filing date: 1982-12-20
Publication date: 1983-07-13
Also published as: GB2111901B

Abstract

A tile cutter for separating into parts a ceramic tile or the like after scoring a break line, comprised of a pair of blocks (10, 12) hinged by strap hinges (14) and having proximate edge faces (18, 20) cut away to provide clearance for folding the blocks about the hinge. Slots (24, 26) extend through the blocks and are normally coplanar to admit a tile so as to bridge the gap between the two blocks, A stop (30) which may be adjustable towards and away from the hinge, governs the amount by which the tile can be introduced into the aligned slots (24, 26). Alternatively the tile may be held in position through a cut-out. A scale (38) allows the amount of insertion to be measured. A scribing tool can be used to scribe a line in the tile surface to define the break line and the tile is cut (or broken) by sharply moving one of the two blocks relative to the other as by a sharp impact, so as to stress the tile along the tile scribed lined to break the tile therealong. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in cutting devices for tiles Field of the invention This invention relates to a tile cutter, more especially for cutting glazed ceramic tiles, but also has applicability to cutting other brittle sheet material such as glass.

Accordingly references herein to a "tile cutter" should be understood to referto a cutting device primarily intended for cutting tiles but also being usable for cutting analogous brittle sheets.

Background of the invention Normally, glazed ceramic tiles are cut by the steps of measuring the tile to the section required, scribing the glazed surface in accordance with the measurement, and snapping the tile, expectantly along the scribed line, by exerting a folding pressure between the two sections on opposite sides of the said line.

This known procedure is open to errors of measurement, errors or faults in scribing, and incorrect snapping which deviates from the scribed line, any and all of which result in tile wastage, especially when tiles are being handled by a relatively unskilled person.

Object of the invention It is an object of this invention to provide a cutting device, especially suitable for cutting glazed ceramic tiles, which can be readily and inexpensively manufactured and is simple to use, even by the unskilled person, and is efficient in operation for the purpose of substantially reducing tile wastage.

The invention According to the invention, there is provided a tile cutter which comprises first and second blocks having proximate edge faces at which the two blocks are hinged together, coplanar slots extending through said two blocks in a plane parallel to and at least passing close to the hinge axis, whereby a tile can be inserted through the slot in the second block and past the proximate edge faces to enter the slot in the first block, and means enabling positioning of an inserted tile so that the two blocks can subsequently be folded to snap the tile at a scribed line thereon which is located substantially in line with the hinge axis at the proximate edge faces.

Further features Preferably, the proximate edge faces of the two blocks have regions which are in substantially abutting relationship, and said edge faces are cut away on one side of the coplanar slots. This enables a scribed line on an inserted tile to be seen or more commonly, the line to be scribed, through the elongate recess formed by the cut away portions of the edge faces, after the tile has been inserted and correctly positioned.

In one embodiment, the positioning enabling means comprises a stop means interrupting the slot in the first block.

Thus, the stop means will preferably be adjustable, towards or away from the hinged joint between the two blocks, so that a line can be scribed in a chosen position set by a scale associated with the adjustable stop means.

In another embodiment, the position enabling means comprises at least one cut-out in the first block on one side of the slot therein, enabling an inserted tile to be seen and positioned.

The cut-out or cut-outs enable the inserted tile both to be initially positioned and maintained in position with the fingers when the blocks are folded.

When the blocks substantially abut at the hinged joint, the edge faces will be angled away from one another on one side of the hinge axis, in order to provide clearance for the blocks to be folded.

The two blocks will preferably be connected by spring means which normally urges them into the unfolded condition in which the slots are in coplanar relationship ready for insertion of a tile. This spring means may be housed in a recess in the blocks if desired, and will preferably be a tension spring acting between the blocks to the side of the hinge axis opposite to the side on which the edge faces are angled away from one another.

The first block having the positioning enabling means can be a larger and more substantial block than the second block, and in particular may have a larger dimension (thickness) than the second block in the direction normal to the coplanar slots. This enables the first block to be held down on the flat of a table, and the second block to be folded, at least to the extent necessary to snap a scribed tile, without the necessity to position the second block so that it overhangs the table edge.

Alternatively, the blocks may each be provided with a pair of feet at or adjacent the outer corners remote from the hinge joint, and the hinge is formed by a hinge means projecting below the blocks to the same level as the feet. The hinge means thus constitutes supplementary feet for supporting the blocks in coplanar relationship.

The second block may conveniently be provided with a clamping means, e.g. a screw threaded pin and associated clamping plate in the slot, which pin can be screwed into the block, as by an exposed finger grip, to cause the clamping plate to clamp an inserted tile in a properly located position.

Preferably, the side wall of the slot, in at least one of the blocks, is provided with a leaf spring for resilient positioning of an inserted tile in the lateral direction transverse to its direction of insertion.

The blocks may be made of any convenient material, but often wood will be preferred. Whatever the block material, it will be preferred to provide at least the second block with a steel insert adjacent its edge face, for the purpose of protecting the cutting edge of a scriber. Furthermore, the face of the clamping plate which is to press on the tile, usually on the glazed surface thereof, will preferably be lined with a layer of rubber or plastics material such as P.V.C.

Description of drawings In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic, exploded, perspective view of one embodiment of cutting device; Figure 2 is a plan view thereof; Figure 3 is a side elevational view; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment; Figure 5 is a side elevational view thereof; and Figure 6 is an end elevational view.

Description of embodiment In Figure 1, reference 10 generally denotes a first block and reference 12 generally denotes a second block. The blocks 10, 12 are hinged together by means of strap hinges 14 on opposite sides of the device, defining a hinge axis 16 (see Figure 2) disposed between two proximate edge faces 18, 20 of the two blocks, which faces have regions in close to abutting relationship. Thus, on the scale of the blocks 10, 12 below the hinge 16, the edge faces 18, 20 are angled away from one another, as indicated at 22 in Figures 1 and 3, in order to provide clearance for folding of the blocks about the hinge.

Slots 24, 26, normally in coplanor relationship, extend through the blocks 10, 12 from front to back in a plane parallel to and intersecting the hinge axis 16. In practise, each such slot may be defined between two partial blocks bonded together through intermediate spacers 10A, 12A to form the slotted blocks 10, 12 (see Figure 3). Tension springs 28 normally hold the blocks 10, 12 in the unfolded condition in which the slots 24, 26 are coplanor, ready for insertion, from the front, of a tile to be cut.

The first or rear block 10 carries a stop means which interrupts the slot 24. This stop means conveniently comprises a stop member 30 (see Figure 3), slideable in a tunnel cut in the block, towards or away from the hinge 16, under the drive of a finger screw 32 projecting from the rear of said first block. A reduced width upward extension of the tunnel forms a slot 34 along which is movable an index finger 36 carried by the stop member 30. The index finger 36 cooperates with a graduated scale 38 provided on the upper surface of the first block 10.

In use, the stop member 30 can be adjusted, using the cooperating scale 38 and cooperating index finger 36, to locate the leading edge of a tile inserted through the blocks from the front. A reading (X) on the scale will set the stop member so that a line across the tile in line with the hinge 16 is a distance (X) from the leading edge of the tile. It is on this line that the tile is to be scribed ready for breakage.

In order to enable scribing, the proximate edge faces 18,20 of the two blocks 10, 12 are cut away above the hinge 16, as indicated at 40, to enable insertion of the scribing head of a scriber. Although not shown, a suitable scribing tool may be mounted to one of the blocks for sliding along a rail extending across the block adjacent the scribing slot defined by the opposed cut away portions of the two blocks.

In use a tile will be inserted, glazed surface uppermost, through the slot in the second block and into the slot in the first block as far as permitted by the adjusted stop member. Clamping means is provided on the second block 12 to clamp the tile in this desired location. Such clamping means comprises a clamp arm 42 rotatable to drive a screw threaded pin 44 into the block 12 in order to depress a clamping plate 46. Located within the slot 26, into engagement with the tile. The face of the clamping plate will in practise be lined with rubber or a plastics material such as P.V.C.

The tile may now be scribed, as indicated at 47, and then, by folding the two blocks 10, 12 about the hinge 14, snapped at the scribed line. For this purpose, the first block 10 may be held down on a table or workbench with the second block overhanging the edge. Preferably, however, although not shown, the first block 10 will be sufficiently thicker than the second block 12thatthe latter block can be sufficiently folded to snap the tile when the device is positioned on a table away from the edge thereof.

Conveniently, the blocks 10,12 may be made of wood, in which case a steel insert 48 is provided at the edge face 18 of the first block or 20 of the second block, in order to protect the cutting edge of the scriber.

Viewed from the front, the tile-receiving slot 26 in the second block 12, and likewise the slot 24 in the first block 10, will be wide enough to receive a standard size ceramic tile with clearance. Likewise the slots 24, 26, as restricted by the stop means, will permit the tile to be inserted to an adjustable extent enabling a range of tile sections to be cut from a relatively narrow strip up to a half tile.

Figures 4to 6 show a simpler embodiment comprising two first and second blocks 50, 52, of smaller depth than in the preceding embodiment, but provided with feet 54 at the outer corners.

The blocks 50, 52 are hinged by a hinge means 56 which projects to the same depth below the blocks (in the coplanar relationship thereof) as the feet. The hinge means 56 form supplementary feet supporting the blocks with the tile insert slots 58,60 in coplanar relationship when the device is placed on a flat surface.

The stop means and clamping means are omitted, in addition to the spring coupling between the blocks. Instead, an inserted tile is positioned, and held in position with the fingers during folding of the second block 52 relative to the first block 50, through a pair of rectangular cut-outs 62 in the first block. A measuring scale 64 is provided along one edge of each cut-out, parallel to the direction of tile insertion.

A steel insert 66 for protection of a scriber point is provided along one side of a recess 68, above the hinge axis at the edges of the adjacent upper surfaces of the two blocks 50, 52, which recess enables an inserted and positioned tile to be scribed prior to cutting or trimming by folding the blocks.

Also, as indicated in Figure 1, at least one side wall of the tile insert slot 58 in the first block 50 is provided with a leaf spring 70 for biassing an inserted tile laterally and thereby effecting resilient positioning thereof in the lateral direction transverse to the direction of tile insertion.

Although the alternative embodiment of Figures 4 to 6 is primarily intended to be a simpler and less expensive arrangement, it will be apparent that a stop means and/or clamping device and/or coupling spring may be added to the arrangement, if desired.

It will be appreciated that the above described arrangement are described by way of example and may be modified in various ways within the scope of the invention as hereinbefore defined, equally if the cutting device is designed to be adaptable for cutting tiles of differing standard sizes or even other brittle sheet materials.

The provision of two windows (62) in Figure 4 permits the user to press down on the tile using two fingers during scribing of the tile and folding of the second half of the device to break the tile.

In addition it will be seen that the metal inset such as 64 will not only protect the scriber but will also prevent wear of the relatively soft material from which the block will normally be made.

Claims

1. A tile cutter comprising first and second blocks having proximate edge faces at which the two blocks are hinged together, coplanar slots extending through said two blocks in a plane parallel to and at least passing close to the hinge axis, whereby a tile can be inserted through the slot in the second block and past the proximate edge faces to enter the slot in the first block, and means enabling an inserted tile to be positioned so that the two blocks can subsequently be folded to snap the tile at a scribed line thereon which is located substantially in line with the hinge axis at the proximate edge faces.

2. A tile cutter as claimed in claim 1 in which the proximate edge faces of the two blocks have regions which are in substantially abutting relationship, and said edge faces are cut away on one side of the coplanar slots, to enable a scribed line on an inserted tile to be seen or, more commonly, the line to be scribed, through the elongate recess formed by the cut away portions of the edge faces, after the tile has been inserted and correctly positioned.

3. Atile cutter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the position enabling means comprises a stop means interrupting the slot in the first block.

4. A tile cutter as claimed in claim 3 in which the stop means is adjustable, towards or away from the hinged joint between the two blocks.

5. A tile cutter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the position enabling means comprises at least one cut-out in the first block on one side of the slot therein, enabling an inserted tile to be seen and positioned.

6. Atile cutter as claimed in claim 3 in which a scale is provided, associated with the position enabling means.

7. A tile cutter as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which faces are angled away from one another on one side of the hinge axis, in order to provide clearance for the blocks to be folded.

8. Atile cutter as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 in which the two blocks are connected by spring means which normally urges them into the unfolded condition in which the slots are in coplanar relationship ready for insertion of a tile.

9. Atile cutter as claimed in claim 8 in which the spring means is housed in a recess in the blocks.

10. Atile cutter as claimed in claim 8 or 9 in which the spring means is a tension spring acting between the blocks to the side of the hinge axis opposite to the side on which the edge faces are angled away from one another.

11. A tile cutter as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the first block having the position enabling means is larger and more substantial than the second block.

12. A tile cutter as claimed in claim 11 in which the first block has a larger dimension (thickness) than the second block in the direction normal to the coplanar slots, to enable the first block to be held down on the flat of a table, and the second block to be folded, at least to the extent necessary to snap a scribed tile, without the necessity to position the second block so that it overhangs the table edge.

13. A tile cutter as claimed inanyofthepreceding claims in which the second block is provided with a clamping means, e.g. a screw threaded pin and associated clamping plate in the slot, which pin can be screwed into the block, as by an exposed finger grip, to cause the clamping plate to clamp an inserted tile in a properly located position.

14. Atile cutter as claimed in claim 13 in which the face of the clamping plate which is to press on the tile is lined with a layer of rubber or plastics material such as P.V.C.

15. A tile cutter as claimed in any preceding claim in which the blocks are each provided with a pair of feet at or adjacent the outer corners remote from the hinge joint, and the hinge is formed by a hinge means projecting below the blocks to the same level as the feet.

16. Atile cutter as claimed in any preceding claim in which the side wall of the slot, in at least one of the blocks, is provided with a leaf spring for resilient positioning of an inserted tile in the lateral direction transverse to its direction of insertion.

17. A tile cutter as claimed in any of the preced- ing claims in which one or both of the blocks is provided with a steel insert adjacent to its edge face.

18. A tile cutter as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the blocks are made of wood.

19. Atile cutter as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 17, in which the blocks are made of plastics material.

20. A tile cutter as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 17 in which the blocks are made from metal.

21. A tile cutter constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.