GB2185115A

GB2185115A - Tile jig

Info

Publication number: GB2185115A
Application number: GB08600194A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeffrey Gordon Turner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-01-06
Filing date: 1986-01-06
Publication date: 1987-07-08
Also published as: GB8600194D0; GB2185115B

Abstract

A tile jig for measurement and cutting of tiles has a flat link 1 pivotally mounted on which is a flat bar 3 having a tile cutting guide edge 5. Also mounted on the link 1 is a flat bar 7 which is longitudinally displaceable along the link 1 by a slot 2/bolt 8 connection. The bar 7 has lugs 12, 13 for abutment with a tile edge while the tile can be cut along the edge 5. The jig is pre-set for tile cutting by location and adjustment of the edge 5 and lugs 12, 13 within a recess into which a cut tile is to befitted so that the thickness of the lugs provide a tolerance for grouting material around the tile when cut and fitted in the recess. The lugs 12, 13, may be interchangeable with other lugs of different thickness. The pivot 4 may include friction pads to restrain unintentional movement of the bar 3. The bars 3 and 7 may have friction pads to prevent slippage on the surface of a tile during cutting. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Atilejig Technical field & background art The presentinvention relatestoatilejig and is particularly concerned with a jig structure which facilitatesthe measurement and cutting of tiles priorto theirfixtureto a surface. The invention was primarily developed for use with decorative wall, floor orceiling tiles of a ceramic material but may be used with advantage on tiles of other material such as glass, plastics orwood.

During the tiling of a predetermined area it is recognised that one of the most frustrating, inconvenient and time consuming stages of the work is when it is necessary to cut the tiles to fit a particular area, especially where such an area is of eccentric shape. Conventionally tiles are provided in a square or rectangular form and areasforwhich such tiles have to be cut to fit occur most commonly where two ormore surfaces converge, such asatthejunction of two walls, of a wall and a ceiling ora shelf and awall.

Conventional practice for cutting a tile to fit a specific area is to take the dimensions of various partsofthat area, transfer these to the tile and then perform the cutting operation whilst allowing appropriatetolerance for any space which should be provided atthe edge of the tile, for example, for grouting purposes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tile jig which facilitates the measurement and cutting of tiles and alleviates the disadvantages associated with conventional tile measurement and cutting techniques.

Statement of invention & advantages According to the present invention there is provided a tile jig comprising first and second members longitudinally spaced by a linkage, the first and second members being pivotally mounted to the linkage and capable of longitudinal displacement relativeto each other; thefirst member having face engaging means and the second member having a cutting guide edge which are arranged so that the face engaging means and cutting guide edge can be located against two spaced faces which partially define an area in which a tile is to be fixed to a surface, the face engaging means and cutting guide edge being respectively adjusted into abutment with the respective two faces and the jig so adjusted can be transferred and fitted to a tile with the face engaging means abutting an edge of the tile and the cutting guide edge lying across the tile surfaceforthe guidance of a tile cutting tool.

Preferably the first and second members are sub- stantiallyflatrectangularbar-likecomponentswith the cutting guide edge being provided by a straight side edge of the appropriate bar. The face engaging means of the first member is preferably provided by one or more flange or lug-like projections which ex tendfrom that memberto be capable of, forexample, engaging with the edge ofatilewhilethe membersits on the surface ofthattile; where the first member is a bar-like component as mentioned above, the lug or lugs preferably project from an edge of that bar.A particularfeature of the face en gaging means, especially when in the form of one or more flanges or lugs, is that such means may have a predetermined thickness which serves to determine a clearance or space which may be required between the edge ofthetilewhich is to be cut and an adjacent tile edge or other surface so that, for example, such clearance or spacing can receive grouting.

Preferably the linkage and the first and second members will be of metal, usually steel, although it will be appreciated that the tile jig can be formed of other material (such as plastics orwood) in which latter case it is preferred that the cutting guide edge is provided by a metal strip on the plastics.

Preferably the linkage is also in the form of an elongate flat barto which the first and second mem bers or bars are pivotally connected. The second member is conveniently pivotally mounted and retained at one end ofthe bar linkage while the first member is pivotally mounted on the bar linkage by slidable means so that it is capable of longitudinal displacement on the bar linkage towards and from the second member.Thepivotal mounting ofthe first memberto the linkage is preferably incorporated as part of the slidable means which latter may be lockablefollowingadjustmentofthefirstmemberon the linkage. The pivotal mountings and slidable means are preferably resistant to unintentional displacement by, for example, incorporating friction pads, Belville or spring washers in the pivots.The lockable means forthe first member is conveniently a manually adjustable wing nut.

In the majority of instances of itsusethejig will be located sothattheface engaging means and the cutting guide edges respectively abut two spaced faces which may be, but are unlikely to be, parallel (these two faces may be provided by a wall adjoining a surface to which tiles are to be affixed and a facing edge of a tile already fixed to that surface). Abutment of the face engaging meanswith,forexample,thefac- ing edge of a fixed tile and ofthe cutting guide edge with the wall will, where the surfaces are substantiallyflat, bring the first and second members into alignmentwith the respective edge and wall. Having been so aligned, the first and second members are retained in position either by the stiffness oftheir pivotal mountings and slidable means or by the use of the locking device.The jig can now readily be transferred and mounted on a tilewhich isto be cut without the setting of the jig being disturbed. The jig is mounted onto the surface of the tile which is to be cut so thattheface engaging means abuts an edge of thattile and the cutting guide edge extends across the surface of the tile; thus a region of the tile defined by the cutting guide edge and the edge face ofthetile will correspond in size and shape to the surface onto which the tile is to be affixed but such corresponding size will include a tolerance which is determined by the thickness of the face engaging means. Thistoler- ance is intended to correspond with a space which can be formed between thetilethat is cut and the facing edge of the adjacent tile which is already fixed to the surface - thereby permitting the application of grouting between the tiles. With the jig mounted on a tile as afo rementioned, the ti le can be scored or cut along the cutting guide edge by use of a conventional tool and thereafter snapped in conventional manneronthescoreorcutline.

If required the face engaging means may be removably mounted on the first member so that such means can be interchanged with face engaging means of a different thickness (as may be required for determining a greater orsmaller spacing between tiles for grouting ). With a similar purpose in mind, the first member may readily be removable from the jig so that it can be interchanged with anotherfirst member having face engaging means of a different thickness.Also the face engaging means may be adjustable in position on the first member so that such means can be located to avoid prot ruberanceson atile edge (such asintegrallyformed spacing ribs as are frequently provided on the edges of ceramic tiles) which may adversely affectthe measurements for tile cutting and spacing.

Drawings One embodiment of a tile jig constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the jig; Figure2A is a perspective view ofthe jig shown in use to measure an assymetric surface area on a wall to which a cut tile isto befitted and affixed; Figure2Bshowsthe#ilejgin Figure 2A mounted on a tile preparatory to the tile being cut, and Figure 3 is a perspective View of the tile jig showing a different mode of use to that shown in Figure 2A.

Detailed description of drawings The tile jig shown in Figure 1 has a linkage 1 formed by an elongate flat steel bar having along itudinallyextending slot 2. An oblong rectangular steel bar 3 is secured at its centre and by a pivot 4to one end ofthe bar 1. Either ofthe longer parallel side edges 5 and 6 on the bar 3 is capable of providing a cutting guide edge but in the position ofthe bar3 shown in Figure 1 the cutting guide edge would be regarded as the edge 5. Also carried on the linkage bar 1 is a generally oblong rectangular and predominantlyflat steel bar 7 which is coplanarwith the bar3.

The bar 7 has a bolt 8 located at its centre and projecting through the slot 2. The bolt8 is secu red in the slot 2 by a wing nut 9 so that the bar 7 is capable of being pivotally displaced aboutthe bolt 8 relative to the bar 1 and also of longitudinal displacement in the slot 2 towards or from the pivot 4.

The pivot4 restrains unintentional pivotal displacement of the bar3 relative to the bar 1 ,forex- ample by the inclusion of a friction pad between the adjacent surfaces of the bars 1 and 3 or by the biasing effect on those bars from a Belville or spring washer incorporated in the pivot 4. The bar7 can be locked in positiononthebari bytighteningthewing nut9.

The bar 7 has two co-extensive and parallel longer side edges 1 0 and 11 of which the edge 11 carries two lugs 12 and 13 which are spaced from each other alcng the edge 11.The lugs 12 and 13 project per- pendiculaflyfrom the plane ofthe bars 3 and 7 and in a direction awayfrom the linkage bar 1 so that when the underside faces ofthe bars 3 and 7 are,forexample, seated in abutment on the surface ofatile,the two lugs are capable of engaging in abutment with a side edge ofthattile.

In the example of use of the tile jig shown in Figure 2Athere is a wall 14adjoining a wail 15 both of which extend upwardly from a floor 16. The wall 14 is verti cal whilethewall 15 is inclined so thatthe corner 17 formed between the walls extends at an acute angle relative to the bottom ofthewall 14. The wall 14 is partly covered with conventional square ceramic tiles 18 which are fitted and secured to the wall in conventional mannerwith whole tiles being located in vertical columns and horizontal rows up to an area adjacent to the corner 17 where it is necessaryforthe tiles to be cut to fit.

In Figure2Athetile 19 has already been cut at 20 to fit into the corner 17 and complete the bottom row of tiles. To cut a tile to be fitted and affixed to the wall 14 above the tile 19 and in the space indicated at 21 the tile jig is located so that the bars 3 and 7 lie between the wall 15 and the opposing facing edge 22 of the whole tile 18 which is adjacent to the wall 15. The wing nut is loosened so that the bars 3 and 7 can be displaced and adjusted to bring the cutting guide edge into abutting alignment with the wall 15 atthe corner 17 and the sides of the lugs remote from the bar3 into engagement with the edge 22. In this particularform of use it will be noted that the edge 10 of the bar 7 is directed towards the bar 3.The wing nut 9 is now tightened to lock the bar 7 relative to the bar 1 and the jig is transferred and fitted to the surface of a tile 23 (as shown in Figure2B) which isto be cut to fit the space 21.

Thetilejig is mounted on the tile 23 so that the sides of the lugs 12 and 13 adjacent to the bar3 engage in abutment with a facing edge 24 of the tile 23.

In this condition the bar3 extends across the surface ofthetile 23 so that the cutting guide edge 5 provides a guideline along which the tile surface can be scored or cut by a conventional tile cutting tool 26 and the tile subsequently snapped along the score line.

The part25ofthetilewhich remains and cor- responds to that located between the lugs 12 and 13 and the guide edge 5 is of appropriate size and shape to fitthe space 21.

Aparticularly advantageous feature ofthetilejig is thatthe sides ofthe lugs 12 and 13 which abut in engagement with the edge 22 of the whole fitted tile 18 are directly opposite to the sides ofthe lugs which abut in engagementwith the edge face 24 of the tile which is to be cut. As a consequence the cuttile 25 is slightlysmallerthan the space 21 by an amount corresponding to the thickness ofthe lugs 12 and 1 3 so that when the cut tile is adhered in the space 21,a clearance or gap can be provided between the adjacenttile edges 22 and 24for grouting in conventional manner.

To alleviate the bar 5 from slipping onthesurface of the tile 23 during the cutting or scoring operation and also to alleviate scratching of the tile surface, the bar 3 (and if required the bar 7) can be provided with friction pads or cushions (notshown) of rubberised or other appropriate material by which the bars are seated onthetile surface.

In its mode of use shown in Figure 3, the tile jig serves to determine the size of a cuttiletofit,forex- ample, a region 30 of a narrow shelf or ledge 31 which tapers progressively from end 32 to end 33. In this example, the bar 7 is rotated on its pivot through approximtely 180 degrees from the position shown in Figure 1 so that the lugs 12 and 13 are directed towards the bar 3 thereby permitting (in comparison with the arrangement shown in Figure 1) the lugsto be moved closerto the cutting guide edge 5tithe extent of the width of the bar 7.The jig is mounted on the shelf 31 with the cutting guide edge Sin abut mentwithan upstanding wall 35 from which the shelf projects and the bar 7 is displaced to bring the lugs 12 and 13 into abutment with the shelfedge34 following which the bar7 is locked by the wing nut 9.

Thetilejigcan now be transferred and mounted on the surface of a tilewhich isto be cut to fit the region 30.Thelugsl2andl3areengagedinabutmentwith an edge ofthistileso thatthe cutting guide edge 5 again provides a guidelineforthe cutting tool in sim ilarmannertothat previously discussed. Itwill be apparentthatthearrangementofthejig shown in Figure 3 for cutting a relatively narrow strip of tile can also be used with advantage forfitting a narrow tile in the space on the wall 14 in Figure 2Aimmediately above the space 21.In this latter application the cutting guide edge 5 would be positioned in abutment with the corner 17 and the bar7 adjusted to sitonthe surface of the whole tile 1 8 which is adjacenttothe corner 17 with the lugs 12 and 13 abutting the side edgefaceofthatwholetile 18.

Many conventional ceramictilesareformed having two ribs spaced along each oftheir edge faces.

These ribs on adjacent tiles in a roworcolumn are intended to abut each other to provide a uniform grouting space between the fitted tiles. For convenience the ribs have not been shown on the tiles in the accompanying drawings but it is preferred that the lugs 12 and 13 are located on the bar7 at positions where they can avoidabutmentwith the ribs (since otherwise such abutment could result in a tile being cut to a greater extent than that which may be considered aesthetically desirable).It is for this reason that the tile jig is preferably provided with two spaced lugs 12 and 13; however, it will be realised that if the tiles to be cut are not provided with the aforeme ntionedspacing ribs or if it is considered thatthe presence ofthese ribs in determining the measurements of the cut tile can be neglected, then a single, preferably centrally located lug orflange can be provided on the side edge 11 of the bar 7.

It will be appreciated thatthefacilityto pivotally adjust the bars 3 and 7 on the linkage bar 1 will permit the tile jig to be used for general tile scoring or cutting purposes; for example the bars 3 and 7 may be provided with protractor markings for determining their angular positioning relative to the bar 1 by which, for example, the side edges 5 and 6 may be positioned at a right angle to the side edge 11 for cutting a parallel strip of tile while the linkage bar 1 may be provided with ruled markings for setting the jig to a predetermined spacing between the guide edge 5 and edge 11 when those edges are parallel.

In a modification (not shown) of the tile jig, the lugs 12 and 13 are mounted to be adjustable in position the edge 11 of the bar7. For example, the edge 1 1 may be in the form of a dovetail sectioned track which cooperates with a complementarilyshaped dovetail projection or recess on or in each of the lugs so that those lugs can slide along the track as required and thereafter be locked in position (for example by locking screws carried by the lugs) on the bar7.

This facility for adjusting the lugs 12 and 13 permits them to be located at positions where they can avoid protruberances on a tile edge, such as the aforementioned spacing ribs, which could adversely affect the cutting measurementsforthatparticulartile. In addition, or alternatively, the lugs 12 and 13 may be removably mounted on the bar 7 so that they can be interchanged for lugs of a differentthickness as may be required for providing a greater or smaller spacing for grouting between adjacenttiles.

Claims

1. Atilejig comprising first and second members longitudinally spaced by a linkage, thefirstand second members extending laterally relative to the linkage and mounted thereby to be capable oblong itudinal displacement relative to each other; the first member having face engaging meansandthe second member being pivotally mounted to the lin kage and having a cutting guide edge, the firstand second members being arranged so that the face engaging means and cutting guide edge can be located against two spaced faces which partially define an area in which a tile isto be fixed to a surface, the face engaging means and cutting guide edge being adjusted into abutment with the respective two faces and the jig so adjusted can be transferred and fitted to a tile with the face engaging means abutting an edge of the tile and the cutting guide edge lying acrossthe tile surfaceforthe guidance of a tile cutting tool.

2. A jig as claimed in claim 1 in which the first member is pivotally mounted to the linkage.

3. Ajig as claimed in eitherclaim 1 or claim 2 in which first and second members are substantially flat bar-like components with the cutting guide edge being provided by a straight side edge of the appropriate component.

4. A jig as claimed in any one of the preceding claims inwhichtheface engaging meansofthefirst member comprises one or more flanges or lug-like projections on that memberforengaging with an edge of a tilewhilethe second member sits on the surface of that tile.

5. A jig as claimed in claim 4when appendantto claim 3 in which the face engaging means project from a side edge ofthe appropriate bar-like component.

6. A jig as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the linkage comprises a substantially flat bar-like component.

7. A jig as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the second member is pivotally mounted and retained at a position on, preferably one end of, the linkage and the first member is mounted on the linkage by slidable means so that it is longitudinally displaceable on the linkage towards and from the second member.

8. A jig as claimed in claim 7 when appendanton claim 2 in which the pivotal mounting ofthefirst member is incorporated as part of the slidable means.

9. A jig as claimed in either claim 7 or claim 8 in which the slidable means is lockable following adju stment of the first member on the linkage.

10. A jig as claimed in any one of claims 7to 9 in which the slidable means comprises a bolt on the first member engaging in and slidable along along itudinallyextending slot in the linkage.

11. Ajig as claimed in claim l0whenappendant to claim 9 in which the slidable means is lockable by a manuallyadjustablenut on the bolt.

12. A jig as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the or at least one pivotal mounting comprisesfrictional or spring stiffening means for resisting unintentional pivotal displacement ofthe respective member relative to the linkage.

13. A jig as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims in which the face engaging means is removably mounted on the first member so that such means can be interchanged with face engaging means having different characteristics.

14. A jig as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims in which the first member is removably mounted on the linkage.

15. A jig as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims in which the position of the face engaging means on the first member is adjustable so that such means can be located to avoid protruberances on a tile edge which may otherwise adversely affect measurements fortile cutting.

16. A jig as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which one or more surfaces which are intended to seat on atileduring use of the jig are provides with cushioning orfriction pad means.

17. A jig as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which protractor markings are provided for determining a particuiarangularorientation between the linkage and atleastoneofthefirstand second members.

18. A jig as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims in which the linkage is provided with ruled markings for determining a longitudinal spacing between the or a straight cutting guide edge ofthe second member and the face engaging means of the first member when said guide edge and the face engaging means are parallel.

19. A tile jig substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.