GB2211129A

GB2211129A - Tile clamping jig

Info

Publication number: GB2211129A
Application number: GB8824254A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Russell Whitear
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-10-17
Filing date: 1988-10-17
Publication date: 1989-06-28
Also published as: GB8724370D0; GB8824254D0

Abstract

A tile clamping jig comprising a supporting structure 10, a work surface 11 mounted on the structure, a pedal 23, a gripping block 24 and a linkage connecting the pedal to the gripping block, the linkage being so arranged as to transmit mechanical force from the pedal to the gripping block to move the block, in use, towards and away from the work surface. <IMAGE>

Description

TILE CLAMPING JIG Field of the Invention This invention relates to tile clamping jigs and the term *tile" is intended to include within its scope slates and bricks as well as flat or curved roofing or other tiles.

State of the Art Roofing workers normally try to trap tiles beneath the sole of one foot when cutting through a tile with a powered grinder.

This causes frequent accidents. For example, a curved Norfolk Roofing Pantlle is almost impossible to hold still whilst it is being cut by a powered grinder. If the grinder slips, as it often does under pressure, or if the tile moves suddenly, the rotating grinding wheel can well slice the user S foot.

In addition, the weight of the grinder and the height at which the grinder is used quickly induces backache.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a tile clamping jig comprising a supporting structure, a work surface mounted on the structure, a pedal, a gripping block and a linkage connecting the pedal to the gripping block, the linkage being so arranged as to transmit mechanical force from the pedal to the gripping block to move the block, in use, towards and away from the work surface.

The linkage is preferably in the form of a deformable paralellogram linkage, the linkage, pedal and gripping block being detachable as a unit from the supporting structure.

The supporting structure is preferably In the form of a generally rectangular frame having a pair of foldable leg formations and a work top which provides the work surface and extends over part of the area of the rectangular frame.

Brief Descriptlon of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tile clamping jig, Figure 2 is an end view of the tile clamping jig, and Figure 3 is a view of the two parts of the jig detached from one another for transportation purposes.

Descrlption of the Preferred Embodiment As shown in the drawings, the tile clamping jig includes a base structure in the form of a rectangular frame 10 which carries a table 11, the table 11 extending over part only of the area of the rectangular frame 10 so that, in use, the table 11 provides a work surface on which a tile can be supported with the open space at the other end of the frame facilitating use of a rotating grinding wheel to grind away or remove that part of a tile not on thee, work table 11.

The rectangular frame 10 is provided at each end with a pivotal leg structure, .the two leg structures 12 and 13 and their pivot axes being so arranged that the leg 12 can be folded flat against the under-side of the table 11, i.e. so as to be in the same plane as the rectangular frame 10. The leg formation 13 can then be folded flat against leg 12, this folded condition being shown in Figure 3 from which it can readily be seen that transport and carriage of the base structure is greatly facilitated by Its folding capability. Each leg structure 12, 13 includes, as shown in the drawings, a straight leg 12a, 13a and a cranked leg 12b, 13b, the two legs of each leg structure being interconnected by a tie rod 14, 15 to ensure the stability of the base structure of the jig.

The base structure carries a mountlng plate 16 to which a gripping mcchanism 17 can be bolted. The gripping mcchanism 1? comprises a displaceable parallelogram linkage, one link of which is stationary whilst the others are movable. The stationary link comprises two angle-section vertical bars 18 and 19 which are bolted to the mounting plate and are located, as can be seen from Figure 1, to the rear of the table 11 and at one edge thereof. The other linkages of the parallelogram linkage 17 comprise a vertical link 20 and upper and lower links 21 and 22. The lower link 22 extends beneath the table 11 and, at its frec end, it carries a plate 23, the plate 23 and link 22 providing a pedal which can be pressed down by a user 5 foot. The upper link 21 carries, at its free end, a gripping block 24.

As can be seen from the drawings, when a user presses down with his foot on the plate 23, the link 22 will pivot about its axis of pivotal connection to the bars 18 and 19 and the vertical link 20 will be displaced upwardly. This upward displacement of the vertical link 20 will cffcct pivotal movcment of the upper link 21 about the axis of its pivotal connec tion to the bars 18 and 19 and the gripping block 24 will be moved downwardly. As is clearly shown in Figure 2, the length of the lower link 22 is greater than the length of the upper link 21. This arrangement ensures that, when a user presses downwardly on the plate 23 and, as a result, the gripping block 24 is moved downwardly to exert a gripping action on a tile placed on the table ll, the downward force cxerted on the tile is greater than the downward force exerted by the user on the foot pedal. Since the downward force exerted by the user can correspond substantially to the weight of the user, it will be appreciated that a substantial gripping force Is applied to a tile gripped between the gripping block 24 and the table 11. When a tile is so gripped, a grinding operation can readily be performed using a rotating grinding wheel, the height at which the tile Is supported being such as to facilitate grinding a large number of tiles with the minimum of backache.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A tile clamping fig comprising a supporting structure, a work surface mounted on the structure, a pedal, a gripping block and a linkage connecting the pedal to the gripping block, the linkage being so arranged as to transmit mechanical force from the pedal to the gripping block to move the block, in use, towards and away from the work surface.

2. A clamping jig according to claim 1, in which the linkage is in the form of a deformable parallelogram linkage.

3. A clamping jig according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the linkage, pedal and gripping block are detachable as a unit from the supporting structure.

4, A clamping jig according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the supporting - structure is in the form of a generally rectangular frame having a pair of foldable leg formations.

5. A clamping jig according to claim 4, which includes a work top which provides the work surface and extends over part of the area of the rectangular frame.

6. A clamping jig according to claim 2 in which the pedal is carried on a lower link of the linkage, the gripping block is carried on an upper link of the linkage and the length of the lower link is greater than that of the upper link.

7. A clamping jig according to claim 4 in which one of said pair of foldable leg formations is arranged so that, when folded, it lies substantially in the plane of the rectangular frame.

8. A tile clamping jig substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.