GB2223341A

GB2223341A - An adhesive fixture

Info

Publication number: GB2223341A
Application number: GB8822834A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Laureston
Original assignee: LAURESTON SUSAN
Current assignee: LAURESTON SUSAN
Priority date: 1988-09-29
Filing date: 1988-09-29
Publication date: 1990-04-04
Also published as: GB8822834D0

Abstract

This invention relates generally to adhesive fixtures, but particularly to adhesive ceramic tiles to be used as house numbers for attachment to a suitable attachment surface such as a wall or a door. The fixture has a rear face 3 in which a shallow recess 4 is provided. That part of the fixture which bounds the recess 4 forms a skirt 6 which terminates in a contact surface 8. This surface 8 is so shaped as to form a flush fit with an attachment surface 10. Adhesive means in the form of a powdered cement 12 is located within the recess 4. The cement 12 almost completely fills the recess 4 and is held within the recess 4 by a release strip (14) releasably affixed to the contact surface 8. The fixture is prepared for use by peeling off the release strip (14) and mixing the cement 12 with an appropriate amount of water in the recess 4. The fixture, with the cement 12 still in the recess, is then held in position with its contact surface 8 against the attachment surface 10 until the cement 12 has hardened. Alternatively, the tiles may be made of thermoplastics or fibreglass. The invention may also be applied to coat hooks and brackets. <IMAGE>

Description

AN ADHESIVE FIXTURE This invention relates generally to adhesive fixtures, but particularly to adhesive ceramic tiles to be used as house numbers for attachment to a suitable attachment surface such as a wall or a door but which could just as easily be designed for use as signs, or individual letters for house names or the like.

It is known to attach adhesive fixtures such as house numbers and name plates to an attachment surface with contact adhesive, e.g. double-sided adhesive tape.

Prior to use, the adhesive tape is covered with a backing or release strip. The fixture is affixed to the attachment surface by peeling off the backing or release strip and pressing the fixture onto the attachment surface. Such fixtures have the disadvantage that they are not weatherproof or particularly strong, and are thus unsuitable for outside or heavy-duty use.

Some of the above disadvantages are obviated in another known fixture, in which attachment is effected by providing the fixture with a groove recessed into its rear surface. The groove cooperates with a rail affixed to the attachment surface, and is so shaped as to permit sliding of the fixture relative to the rail in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the rail, whilst preventing out of plane movement of the fixture. While this fixture system is weatherproof and strong, it has the disadvantage that it is difficult to provide means restraining sliding movement of the fixture once it has been slid into its desired position.

According to the present invention, an adhesive fixture, for attachment to an attachment surface, comprises a body with a front and a rear face, part of the rear face providing a contact surface capable of forming a substantially flush fit with the attachment surface, an adhesive means for fixing the body to the attachment surface, and at least one cavity in the rear face of the body in which the adhesive means is stored prior to use.

The attachment surface may suitably be a wall or a door. The contact surface may, for example, be cylindrical, but in a preferred embodiment both the contact surface and the attachment surface are substantially planar.

Preferably, the body is manufactured from ceramic materials. Manufacture from a ceramic material (for instance, pottery) is particularly convenient for the construction of tiles on which may be provided, for example, single or multiple letters or numerals.

Alternative materials can also be envisaged, such as plastics materials (e.g. thermoplastics or fibreglass).

Such alternative materials would be suited to the construction of alternative types of bodies such as hooks (e.g. coat hooks), room signs, and even brackets. Many other uses for an adhesive fixture according to the present invention can be envisaged, especially where weatherproofing or significant strength is required.

Preferably, the cross-sectional area of the or each cavity in the plane of the rear face is greater than the cross-sectional area of the contact surface. Preferably also, only one cavity is provided, said cavity being a shallow recess bounded by a skirt extending from the periphery of the body. In the case of a ceramic tile, the skirt is conveniently made as an integral part of the tile.

Preferably, the adhesive means is capable of a first unhardened state in which it is capable of conforming to at least part of the surface defining the or each cavity, and a second hardened state in which it is capable of partly filling the or each cavity and thereby fixing the body to the attachment surface. It is particularly preferred that the adhesive means is a rapid drying cement which is in a powder form prior to mixing, and which, on mixing with water, is initially workable but ultimately hardens to a rigid state. It will be appreciated that alternative adhesive means are possible, such as two part epoxy adhesives or adhesives which would dry on contact with air.

Preferably, the fixture further comprises a release strip, for retaining the adhesive means within the or each cavity prior to use, which is releasably secured to the contact surface. This strip serves also to keep the contents fresh and unoxidized prior to use.

Preferably also, the adhesive means can be prepared ready for use in the or each cavity. It will be appreciated that it would also be possible to prepare the adhesive means outside of the fixture itself.

A specific embodiment of the invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an adhesive tile shown prior to use, with a release strip in a partially released position; and Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-section through the tile, showing the tile in use after attachment to an attachment surface.

Referring to Figure 1, a ceramic tile 2 has a rear face 3 in which a shallow recess 4, extending over most of the face, is provided. That part of the tile 2 which bounds the recess 4 forms a skirt 6 which terminates in a contact surface 8. This surface 8 is so shaped as to form a flush fit with an attachment surface, shown in Figure 2 as 10.

A legend 16, such as a numeral or letter of the alphabet, or a house or other name, is provided on a front face 18 of the tile. The tile is thus specifically designed as a house or room sign.

Adhesive means in the form of a powdered cement 12 is located within the recess 4. A suitable cement is "Rapid Set Floor and Wall Adhesive, manufactured by Dunlop Ltd.. The cement 12 almost completely fills the recess 4 and is held within the recess 4 by a release strip 14 releasably affixed to the contact surface 8.

This release strip 14 is shown in Figure 1 partly peeled away to reveal the cement 12. Instructions for use are printed on the outer face of the release strip 14 The tile 2 is prepared for use by peeling off the release strip 14 and mixing the cement 12 with an appropriate amount of water in the recess 4. The tile 2, with the cement 12 still in the recess, is then held in position with its contact surface 8 against the attachment surface 10. Since at this stage the cement 12 is in an unhardened state, it flows so as to conform and adhere both to a portion of the surface defining the recess 4 and also to the attachment surface 10. Dependent partially on the pressure being exerted on the tile 2 to hold it in place, the cement 12 may also flow into any gaps between the contact surface 8 and the attachment surface 10, and adhere to both these surfaces.Pressure is exerted on the tile 2 until the cement 12 has hardened. The tile 2 is shown affixed to the wall in Figure 2. Since the cement 12 actually reduces in volume on addition of the appropriate amount of water, in use it does not completely fill the recess 4. If the attachment surface 10 is vertical, the cement 12 will thus fill the lower part of the recess 4.

The invention has been described with reference to a ceramic tile having a recess therein filled ready for use with a powdered cement. It will of course be appreciated that the adhesive fixture need not be ceramic, but could comprise any material with a recess in its rear face, in which any type of adhesive means could be located for securing the fixture to an attachment surface.

It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. An adhesive fixture for attachment to an attachment surface, comprising a body with a front and a rear face, part of the rear face providing a contact surface capable of forming a substantially flush fit with the attachment surface, an adhesive means for fixing the body to the attachment surface, and at least one cavity in the rear face of the body in which the adhesive means is stored prior to use.

2. A fixture according to Claim 1 wherein both the contact surface and the attachment surface are substantially planar.

3. A fixture according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the body is manufactured from a ceramic material.

4. A fixture according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cross-sectional area of the or each cavity in the plane of the rear face is greater than the cross-sectional area of the contact surface.

5. A fixture according to Claim 4 wherein only one cavity is provided, said cavity being a shallow recess bounded by a skirt extending from the periphery of the body

6. A fixture according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the adhesive means is capable of a first unhardened state in which it is capable of conforming to at least part of the surface defining the or each cavity, and a second hardened state in which it is capable of partly filling the or each cavity and thereby fixing the body to the attachment surface.

7. A fixture according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a release strip, for retaining the adhesive means within the or each cavity prior to use, which is releasably secured to the contact surface.

8. A fixture according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the adhesive means can be prepared ready for use in the or each cavity.

9. A fixture substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.