GB2238392A

GB2238392A - Tiling tool

Info

Publication number: GB2238392A
Application number: GB9025073A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Austin Charles Murphy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-11-22
Filing date: 1990-11-19
Publication date: 1991-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 2010-11-19
Also published as: GB9025073D0; GB2238392B

Abstract

A tiling gauge comprising a cut edge defining member 1, a tile space defining member 2 and a clampable linkage connecting the first and second members. The linkage includes two linkage members 3, 4 extending between the first and second members and a double acting clamp 10 on the second member for clamping the two linkage members simultaneously. In operation, the gauge is adjusted in the space between a cemented tile and a wall by use of detents 39, 40, 41 and the member 1. The gauge is clamped by pivoting a cam-surfaced bar 10 to the position shown to compress blocks 12, 14. The adjusted gauge is then laid over a new tile and a scriber is run along the edge of the member 1. The tile is then introduced between a breaking rib 50 and a breaking element (53) on a pivoted arm (52). The gauge may be reversed. <IMAGE>

Description

TILING TOOL The present invention relates to a tiling tool.

Wall and floor tiles are made in standard, generally square, sizes. For tiling an entire wall or floor, the edge row of tiles is likely to have to be of cut tiles. The cut tiles may be cut, not only to size, but to a specific angle, i.e. the cut edge will be at an acute angle to the opposite, uncut, edge of the tile. At the corners, two adjacent edges may require to be cut.

For a tile to be cut, the following operations are required: (i) measurement of the space into which the cut tile is to fit; (ii) transfer of the measurement to the tile and scribing it along the break line; (iii) breaking the tile along the break line.

Various tools specifically designed for some of these three steps are available.

British Patent No 2 185 115 describes a particular type of tiling gauge having a first, cut edge defining member, a second, tile space defining member and a clampable linkage connecting the first and second members.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved tiling tool able to be used in steps (i) and (ii).

A secondary object is to provide an improved tool for all three steps.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a tiling gauge comprising: a first (cut edge defining) member, a second (tile space defining) member and a clampable linkage connecting the first and second members, the linkage including: two linkage members extending between the first and second members and a double acting clamp on the second member for clamping the two linkage members simultaneously.

Preferably, the two linkage members are accommodated on the second member for sliding transversely thereof, when unlocked, and one of the linkage members is pivotally connected to the first member at a fixed point and the other linkage member is pivotally connected to the first member at a point able to move longitudinally of the first member.

Conveniently, the movable point of pivotal connection of the other linkage member is comprised of a pivot pin retained in a slot in the first member.

In the preferred embodiment, the double acting clamp is a lever pivotally connected to the second member between the two linkage members and having cam surfaces for urging the linkage members into abutment with abutment points on the second member. The cam surfaces can be over-centre cams; and abutment points on the second member can be constituted by elastomeric blocks housed in the second member.

Conveniently a top surface of the second member and a top surface of the double acting clamp are generally co-planar.

In accordance with a particularly useful feature, the second member and the clamp linkage are adapted for arrangement of the first member on either side of the second member.

Preferably the second member is provided with a plurality of resiliently mounted tile edge elements, in two sets comprising at least two pairs, for engaging with the edges of both a fixed tile for gauging a tile space and of a tile to be cut for marking it to fit the tile space; one set, comprising one element of each pair, being provided at one side of the second member; and the other set, comprising the other element of each pair, being provided at the other side of this second member.

Preferably, the elements are detents and an arm is provided for each pair of detents, one detent being from one of the sets and the other from the other set, each arm being substantially centrally pivoted on the second member, whereby the pairs of detents are rockingly mounted on the second member and whereby when the second member is laid on a fixed tile one of the detents rests on the surface of the tile having moved towards the second member whilst the other moves away from the member to engage with the edge of the fixed tile. Conveniently, the arms are resilient, whereby the second member can be laid on a flat surface for tile breaking as described below.

In the preferred embodiment, the second member is equipped with means for breaking a tile comprising a ridge for engaging the back face of the tile, a pair of spaced abutments for engaging the front face of the tile and an arm pivotally connecting the abutments to the second member. It is preferred that the spaced abutments are provided on a separate piece pivotally connected to the arm.

The arm is conveniently aligned with the ridge and is pivotally connected to the second member via a post.

Preferably the post has a face beneath the arm set at an angle greater than a right angle to the ridge to facilitate cutting of tiles at angles other than right angles. In the preferred embodiment, this angle is 1350, which allows cutting of tiles at any desired angle.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of cutting a tile to size consisting in the steps of: i. locating a tiling gauge of the invention with its second member resting on a fixed tile (defining a gap to be filled by a tile to be cut) with some of its detents engaging an edge of the tile at the gap, unclamping the clampable linkage, extending the linkage members until the first member has an edge coincident with the edge of the gap remote from the fixed tile and clamping the clampable linkage; ii. laying the tiling gauge over a tile to be cut with the detents engaging an edge of the tile and scribing a line on the tile at the the edge of the first member; and iii. placing the tile between the ridge and the spaced abutments with the scribed line above the ridge and applying force to the arm to break the tile.

To help understanding of this invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a tiling tool of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the tiling tool of Figure 1 with a clamping bar in its clamping position; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the clamp bar in its release position; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line IV-IV in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a scrap cross-sectional view on the line V-V in Figure 2; Figure 6 is a scrap cross-sectional view on the line VI-VI in Figure 2; Figure 7 is a scrap cross-sectional view of the clamping bar on the line VII-VII in Figure 8; and Figure 8 is an underneath view of the clamping bar.

In general terms, the tool shown in the Figures has a cut edge defining member -1, a tile space defining/base member 2 and two links 3,4. The link 3 is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 5 to the cut edge member 1 at a fixed point. The link 4 also is pivotally connected to the member 1, but its pivot pin 6 is retained in an overhung slot 8 in the member 1 and is able to move longitudinally of the member 1. This arrangement allows the links 3,4 to remain parallel when the member 1 is moved to an angular position different from a right angle to their length.

The base member 2 has a recess 9 in which a clamping bar 10 is pivotally mounted. At opposite ends of the recess 9, the links 3,4 cross it. Beyond them, the recess at each end has a respective housing 11,12 for elastomeric blocks 13,14. The blocks have dovetails 15,16 to which the housings 11,12 are complementary. To the left side (in Figures 2 and 3) of the recess 9, tracks 17,18 for the links 3,4 are provided. These tracks are bridged by upper and lower flats 19,20,21, which allow the base to be moulded in a simple coreless fashion - at least as regards these details, see Figure 6.

The clamping bar 10 has its top surface flush with the top surface of the base, for ease of tile cutting as described below; and the clamping bar is held onto the base by a rivet 22. To provide even support for the clamping bar, it has a plurality of concentric ribs 23 moulded on its underside, see Figure 8. Radially outermost ribs 25,26 are shaped as cams to urge the links 3,4 against the blocks 13,14 when the clamping bar is in its clamping position, Figure 2. It is moved to this position by thumb or finger pressure on a side protrusion 27 and away from the clamping position to the release position of Figure 3 by pressure on the plain opposite end side 28. The protrusion 27 and the opposite end 28 of the clamping bar 10 always partially over-lie the blocks 13,14, captivating them in the housing 11,12.

Referring in detail to Figure 8, the cam ribs 25,26 have flats 29,30 transverse of the active centre line VII-VII of the clamping bar 10. These flats, by extending on either side of the line VII-VII further compress the blocks 13,14 from a determined compression in the Figure 2 position, in an over-centre manner so that the Figure 2 position is one of stable clamping. The cam portions 31,32 opposite the links 3,4 in the release position of Figure 3 are circularly curved and centred on centres 33, 34 eccentric of the pivot centre 35 of the clamping bar.

Therefore they relieve the compression of the blocks as the clamping bar is moved to the release position. Figure 3 shows the clearance between the cams 25,26 and the links 3,4 in the release position, whereby the links can be moved. It should be noted at this point that the links can be removed from the tracks 17,18 by sliding to the right in Figure 3, swung through 1800 with respect to the cut edge defining member 1 and then re-introduced into the tracks from the left. This facilitates both left and right hand use of the tool.

In use the base member is rested on a fixed, i.e.

already cemented tile; and the cut edge member 1 is moved, with the clamp released, to a cut edge position at which a cut edge of the next tile will be, and clamped there. For this it is important that the base member should be located with respect to the positioned tile. For this, detents 36,37,38 on one side of the base member and 39,40,41 on the other side of the base member are provided. They are connected in pairs by means of integrally moulded resilient arms, of which one only 42 between the detents 36 and 39 is shown in detail in Figure 4. It is pivotally connected at its centre by a through rivet 43 to the base member 2. If one detent is located on a positioned tile, the other can hooked over its edge, locating the base member, without flexure of the arm.When the member is positioned on a flat surface for tile cutting, the arm flexes and the distal ends 44 of the detents are in the plane of the bottom 45 of the base member 2. The detents are provided in two pairs 36,39; 37,40 arranged close together and one pair 30,41, at the other end of the base member to enable short pieces of tile to be gauged as well as full size tiles. The detents are twice as thick as the normal grouting allowance, 2mm, to provide a grouting allowance at both sides of a cut tile.

The base member has a breaking rib 50 above which along a line 51 is pivotally mounted a breaking arm 52, itself pivotally carrying a breaking element 53 having two abutment ends 54,55 for applying breaking forces to a tile T on opposite sides of the line 51, with which a break line scribed on the tile will be approximately aligned.

The breaking arm 52 is pivotally connected to the base member 2 via a post 56, moulded integrally with the base.

To enable tiles to be cut at an angle other than 900 to an edge, the post 56 is provided with a face 57 set at 1350 to the line 51. The angle and disposition of the face 57 with respect to the breaking rib 50 is such that tiles to be cut at an angle can be accommodated and firmly gripped by the breaking rib 50 and the abutments 54,55.

Use of the combined tool will now be described: Step 1 The tool is gripped in one hand, conveniently via the base 2. By thumb pressure on the clamping bar 10 on its side 28, the tool is unclamped and the cut edge member 1 can be slid towards the base member 2. This allows the tool to be slid over the already cemented tiles until the arms 42 spring the detents 36,37,38 to engage the free edge of these tiles, when the free edge of the tiles is their right hand edge and the tool is oriented as in Figure 2. If the tile's free edge is their left hand edge, the links 3,4 are slid out of the tracks 17,18, swung to the opposite side of the member 1, and re-introduced into the tracks from the left hand side of the base member 2. The member 1 is then moved away from the member 2 to engage the adjacent wall with its edge remote from the base.The tool is clamped by thumb pressure on the protrusion 27.

Step 2 The clamped tool is laid over a new tile with the detents engaging its free edge (and providing a grouting allowance by their thickness). A scriber is run along the edge of the cut edge member 1 to score the tile along the desired break line.

Step 3 The tile T is removed from beneath the tool which is then supported from below. The tile is introduced between the breaking rib 50 and the breaking element 53, with the score line aligned with the breaking rib. Downwards force on the arm 52 causes the tile to break along the score line over the breaking rib 50. If the score line is at an oblique angle to an edge of the tile, the latter can be arranged adjacent to the angled face 57 of the post 56 and still arranged with the score line over the rib 50. Were the face 57 to be transverse to the length 51 of the arm, the angling of the score line would be liable to cause the tile to lie out from the post and not between the rib and the breaking element 53.

It should be noted that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiment.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A tiling gauge comprising: a first (cut edge defining) member, a second (tile space defining) member and a clampable linkage connecting the first and second members, the linkage including: two linkage members extending between the first and second members and a double acting clamp on the second member for clamping the two linkage members simultaneously.

2. A tiling gauge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two linkage members are accommodated on the second member for sliding transversely thereof, when unlocked, and one of the linkage members is pivotally connected to the first member at a fixed point and the other linkage member is pivotally connected to the first member at a point able to move longitudinally of the first member.

3. A tiling gauge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the movable point of pivotal connection of the other linkage member is comprised of a pivot pin retained in a slot in the first member.

4. A tiling gauge as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the double acting clamp is a lever pivotally connected to the second member between the two linkage members and having cam surfaces for urging the linkage members into abutment with abutment points on the second member.

5. A tiling gauge as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cam surfaces are over-centre cams.

6. A tiling gauge as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein abutment points on the second member are constituted by elastomeric blocks housed in the second member.

7. A tiling gauge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a top surface of the second member and a top surface of the double acting clamp are generally co-planar.

8. A tiling gauge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second member and the clamp linkage are adapted for arrangement of the first member on either side of the second member.

9. A tiling gauge as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second member is provided with a plurality of resiliently mounted tile edge elements, in two sets comprising at least two pairs, for engaging with the edges of both a fixed tile for gauging a tile space and of a tile to be cut for marking it to fit the tile space; one set, comprising one element of each pair, being provided at one side of the second member; and the other set, comprising the other element of each pair, being provided at the other side of this second member.

10. A tiling gauge as claimed in claim 9, wherein the elements are detents and an arm is provided for each pair of detents, one detent being from one of the sets and the other from the other set, each arm being substantially centrally pivoted on the second member, whereby the pairs of detents are rockingly mounted on the second member and whereby when the second member is laid on a fixed tile one of the detents rests on the surface of the tile having moved towards the second member whilst the other moves away from the member to engage with the edge of the fixed tile.

11. A tiling gauge as claimed in claim 9, wherein each arm is resilient, whereby the tiling gauge can be laid on a flat surface.

12. A tiling gauge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second member is equipped with means for breaking a tile comprising a ridge for engaging the back face of the tile, a pair of spaced abutments for engaging the front face of the tile and an arm pivotally connecting the abutments to the second member.

13. A tiling gauge as claimed in claim 12, wherein the spaced abutments are provided on a separate piece pivotally connected to the arm.

14. A tiling gauge as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the arm is aligned with the ridge and is pivotally connected to the second member via a post.

15. A tiling gauge as claimed in claim 14, wherein the post has a face beneath the arm set at an angle greater than a right angle to the ridge to facilitate cutting of tiles at angles other than right angles.

16. A tiling gauge as claimed in claim 15, wherein the angle greater than a right angle is substantially 1350.

17. A method of cutting a tile to size consisting in the steps of: i. locating a tiling gauge as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16 with its second member resting on a fixed tile (defining a gap to be filled by a tile to be cut) with the with some of its detents engaging an edge of the tile at the gap, unclamping the clampable linkage, extending the linkage members until the first member has an edge coincident with the edge of the gap remote from the fixed tile and clamping the clampable linkage; ii. laying the tiling gauge over a tile to be cut with the detents engaging an edge of the tile and scribing a line on the tile at the the edge of the first member; and iii. placing the tile between the ridge and the spaced abutments with the scribed line above the ridge and applying force to the arm to break the tile.

18. A tiling gauge substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A method of cutting a tile substantially as hereinbefore described with a tiling gauge as claimed in claim 18.