GB2208365A - Multi-purpose tiler's tool - Google Patents

Abstract

There is disclosed a tiler's tool comprising a tile breaker having pivoted handles (11 and 12) and a head (13) providing an anvil (14), there being a tile cutter (15) retractably mounted in said head. The tool may also incorporate a grout remover, measuring scale, spirit level and abrasive surface. <IMAGE>

Description

TILER'S TOOL This invention relates to a tiler's tool.

The two most important tile-modifying operations performed by tilers are cutting, in which a line is scored on the glazed surface of a tile by a tile cutter, usually a small blade of high hardness material such as tungsten carbide, and breaking, in which the tile is held by an edge in between an anvil and a jaw member in a plier-like arrangement. Specialist tools are available for each of these functions, as are specialist tools also for other functions in tiling such, for example, as grout removing from between tiles, measuring tiles for cutting, levelling and smoothing the edges of cut or broken tiles.

Whilst numerous "universal" tools have been proposed in many fields - perhaps among the best known is the Swiss Army Knife, which combines regular blades, a saw edge, a corkscrew, a bottle opener and other elements - none appears to have been suggested for tiling, possibly because of the diverse nature of the functions required in filing.

The present invention provides a new tiler's tool which, whilst combining two or more functions currently performed by two or more separate tools, is extremely convenient to support and work.

The invention comprises a tiler's tool comprising a tile breaker having pivoted handle means and a head comprising anvil means, and a tile cutter retractably mounted in said head.

The tool may also comprise a grout removing tool, which may also be retractably mounted in the head.

The tool may also comprise an abrasive element for smoothing cut tile edges. Said abrasive element may be mounted in the handle means.

Said abrasive element may be mounted on a face of one pivoted element of the handle means which runs substantially parallel to a hand grip part of said pivoted element, the other pivoted element of the handle means normally lying against said hand grip part to constitute therewith a hand grip for using the abrasive element.

The tool may also comprise spirit level means and may also comprise tile measuring means.

The head may be in two parts, one part being integral with one element of the handle means, and the other hand part being removably secured to the said one part, the two parts being secured together defining a housing for the said tile cutter from which the said tile cutter can be extended to an operative position.

The tool can comprise hard plastics material moulded components.

One embodiment of tiler's tool according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figure 1 is a side elevation with the handle means open, showing the handle-closed position in broken line; Figure 2 is a view along the arrow II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view of the head showing the tile cutter extended; Figure 4 is a view of the head showing the grout remover extended; and Figure 5 is a view along arrow V of Figure 1 showing measuring means.

Figure 1 to 6 illustrate a tiler's tool comprising a tile breaker having pivoted handle means 11 and 12 and a head 13 comprising anvil means 14 and a tile cutter 15 retractably mounted in said head 13.

The tool also comprises a grout removing tool 16. Said grout removing tool 16 is also retractably mounted in said head 13.

The tool also comprises an abrasive element 17 for smoothing cut tile edges. Said abrasive element is mounted on the handle means 11 and 12 and indeed on a face 18 of one pivoted element 11 thereof which runs parallel to a hand grip part 19 of said pivoted element 11, the other pivoted element 12 normally lying against the said hand grip part 19 to constitute therewith a hand grip for using the abrasive element 17. The abrasive element 17 can comprise a metal strip coated with a finish containing abrasive particles.

The said other pivoted element 12 of the handle means comprises spirit level means 21 and a graduated tile measuring ruler 22.

The pivoted element 12, when closed, runs parallel to the face 18 so that the tool can be placed with the face 18 down on a surface, when the spirit level means 21 will indicate the slope of the surface.

The head 13 is in two parts, one part being integral with element 11 of the handle means and the other part being removably secured to the said one part as by screws. The two parts when secured together define a housing for the tile cutter 15 and also for the grout remover 16 from which each of them can be extended to operative position. The housings comprise channels in which the tile cutter and grout remover can slide between extended and retracted positions operated by buttons 15a and 16a that extend through slots 15b and 16b to open at the side of the head for finger access.

The tool is comprised essentially of hard plastics material moulded components.

Because the tile cutter and the grout remover are retractable, the tiler's tool can be readily carried in a pocket. The particular design accommodates all of the tools a tiler needs in a single unit permitting ready replacement of worn tile cutter bits and grout remover.

Claims (10)

1. A tiler's tool comprising a tile breaker having pivoted handle means and a head comprising anvil means, and a tile cutter retractably mounted in said head.

2. A tiler's tool according to claim 1, also comprising a grout removing tool.

3. A tiler's tool according to claim 2, in which said grout removing tool is retractably mounted in said head.

4. A tiler's tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising an abrasive element for smoothing cut tile edges.

5. A tiler's tool according to claim 4, in which said abrasive element is mounted on the handle means.

6. A tiler's tool according to claim 5, in which said abrasive element is mounted on a face of one pivoted element of the handle means which runs parallel to a hand grip part of said pivoted element, the other pivoted element of the handle means normally lying against said hand grip part to constitute therewith a hand grip for using the abrasive element.

7. A tiler's tool according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising spirit level means.

8. A tiler's tool according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising tile measuring means.

9. A tiler's tool according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the head is in two parts, one part being integral with one element of the handle means and the other part being removably secured to the said one part, the two parts when secured together defining a housing for the said tile cutter from which the said tile cutter can be extended to an operative position.

10. A tiler's tool according to any one of claims 1 to 9 comprising hard plastics material moulded components.