GB2334731A

GB2334731A - Means for spacing tiles

Info

Publication number: GB2334731A
Application number: GB9904594A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Andrew Brian Hirst
Original assignee: Team Innovation Ltd
Current assignee: Team Innovation Ltd
Priority date: 1998-02-26
Filing date: 1999-02-26
Publication date: 1999-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-26
Also published as: GB9904594D0; GB2334731B; GB9803912D0

Abstract

An array of rectangular tiles 6 fixed by a layer of material to a substrate includes a plurality of tile spacers 8 located at respective interstices of the array. Each tile spacer 8 includes four front portions 4 spaced 90‹ apart around the interstice, each portion being interposed between adjacent side edges of tiles and further includes a back portion 5 which is interposed between the substrate and each of the four tiles adjacent to the interstice.

Description

Spacing of Tiles The present invention relates to tile spacers for use in forming an array of tiles, to an array of tiles including such spacers and to a method of fixing tiles in an array. The invention is particularly concerned with the application of tiles to a substrate.

Typically, ceramic tiles are applied to a wall by applying tile adhesive to the wall or the back of the tile and then pressing the tile onto the wall. Two problems which in practice occur in this apparently simple operation are firstly how to achieve an even spacing between adjacent tiles and secondly how to achieve a level top surface of the tiles. If a tile is not at the same distance from the wall relative to adjacent tiles the appearance of the array of tiles is spoilt.

The first problem mentioned above of uniform spacing of tiles can be dealt with by using the known component shown in Fig. 1. That component is in the form of a cross 1 and is fitted at the interstices at the adjacent corners of four tiles 3, one such interstice being shown in Fig. 1.

The component 1 creates a fixed gap 2 between the tiles 3.

The component does not, however, provide any control of the spacing of the tiles from the wall. Hence, while the tiles can be evenly spaced from one another, there may be greatly varying thicknesses of adhesive under them resulting in a varying spacing from the wall, thus giving an unsatisfactory appearance.

It is an object of the invention to provide a tile spacer and a method of fixing tiles, which enables tiles to be fixed evenly spaced from one another and also evenly spaced from a substrate to which the tiles are fixed.

According to the invention there is provided an array of rectangular tiles fixed by a layer of material to a substrate, in which array there are a plurality of interstices each at the adjacent corners of four tiles, the array including a plurality of tile spacers located at respective interstices of the array, each tile spacer including four front portions spaced 900 apart around the interstice, each front portion being interposed between respective adjacent side edges of tiles and further including a back portion which is interposed between the substrate and each of the four tiles adjacent to the interstice.

The front portions of the tile spacer enable the separation of adjacent side edges of the tiles to be controlled while the back portion enables the spacing of the tiles from the substrate to be controlled. For example, the widths of the front portions are preferably all the same to provide the same spacings between all the side edges of the tiles and the depths of the back portions are preferably all the same to provide the same spacings of the tiles from the substrate.

The four front portions may be individual portions mounted on the back portion but preferably the four front portions are in the form of a single cross-shaped portion.

That facilitates correct placing of the spacer relative to a tile during laying.

The back portion may take various forms as described below but preferably is in the form of a generally annular portion on which each of the four front portions are mounted. The annular portion may be of various shapes, including a square shape, but preferably is ring-shaped and more preferably substantially circular. Such an arrangement makes the spacer easy to use and easy and economical to fabricate.

The four front portions and the back portion of each spacer are preferably integral with one another. Each spacer may be made from plastics material by injection moulding.

The overall depth of the back portion should be matched to the desired depth of the layer of material between the substrate and the tiles; consequently, the overall depth of the back portion is preferably in the range of 2 to 4 mm and, more preferably, about 3 mm.

The width of each front portion of a spacer should be matched to the desired spacing of adjacent sides of tiles; consequently, the width of each front portion is preferably in the range of 1 to 3 mm and, more preferably, about 2 mm.

The depth of each front portion is not so significant provided that the front portion does not protrude so far forward that it is not concealed when grouting or the like is applied between adjacent sides of tiles. Thus the depth of each front portion may for example be about 3 mm.

Usually the array will comprise an array of wall tiles fixed to a vertical wall. The invention can, however, be applied to other situations, for example where the tiles are floor tiles or even paving slabs.

The tile spacers may conveniently be supplied separately from tiles and indeed the design of the tile spacers is not closely dependent upon the design of the tiles. Accordingly the present invention further provides a tile spacer suitable for use as one of a plurality of tile spacers in an array of rectangular tiles as defined above, the tile spacer including four front portions spaced 900 apart about a central axis and a back portion which extends into each of the four 900 sectors around the central axis.

Preferably the back portion of a spacer extends into all four of the quadrants around the central axis. The back portion then serves to act as a spacer for all four tiles adjacent to an interstice.

A part of the back portion, together with one or more associated front portions can be arranged so that it can be broken off to leave a back portion which extends into fewer than all four of the quadrants around the central axis.

When tiling adjacent to an edge, only part of the spacer is needed and indeed the unwanted part may cause an obstruction; it is therefore desirable that one quarter, one half or even three quarters of the back portion, together with one, two or three of the four front portions can be broken off. Notches may be provided in the spacer to facilitate such breaking off.

The present invention further provides a method of fixing rectangular tiles in an array to a substrate, to form an array of rectangular tiles on the substrate, the array being as defined above.

By way of example certain tile spacing arrangements will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of part of an array of tiles, showing four tiles spaced apart at their adjacent corners by a known form of spacer; Fig. 2a is a side view of a tile spacer embodying the invent ion; Fig. 2b is a view of the spacer of Fig. 2a in the direction of the arrow X (viewing the spacer from the front); Fig. 2c is a view of the spacer of Fig. 2a in the direction of the arrow Y (viewing the spacer from the back); Fig. 3a is a front view of part of an array of tiles, showing four tiles spaced apart at their adjacent corners by the spacer of Figs. 2a to 2c; Fig. 3b is a sectional side view of the array of tiles shown in Fig. 3a; Figs. 4a to 8a are front views of modified forms of the spacer shown in Figs. 2a to 2c; Figs. 4b to 8b are side views of the modified forms of the spacer shown in Figs. 4a to 8a respectively; Fig. 9a is a front view of a further modified form of spacer; Fig. 9b is a side view of the spacer shown in Fig. 9a; and Fig. 9c is a back view of the spacer shown in Fig. 9a.

Referring first to Figs. 2a to 2c, the tile spacer shown comprises a back portion in the form of circular ring 5 and four front portions in the form of a cross-shaped member 4 which spans the ring. The tile spacer is formed in one piece from plastics material by injection moulding.

Figs. 3a and 3b show how the tile spacer (indicated by reference numeral 8) is positioned in an array of tiles.

The ring 5 of the spacer rests against the wall surface 10 and extends underneath the corners of each of four tiles 6 that are being laid. A layer of adhesive 7 is laid on the wall and the tile pressed against the wall until it contacts the ring 5 of the spacer. Thus the depth of the ring 5 determines the spacing of the tile from the wall.

The cross-shaped member 4 projects forwardly from the ring 5 between the adjacent side edges of tiles and controls the spacing of the side edges. In Figs. 3a and 3b the tiles 6 are shown slightly spaced from the cross-shaped member 4 for the sake of clarity but it should be understood that in practice the sides of the tiles will be in contact with, or almost in contact with, the sides of the spacer.

It will be understood that, although in Fig. 3a only four tiles and one tile spacer are shown, there will in practice be more tiles and a tile spacer at each of the interstices of the tiles. In that way the corners of the tiles can be equally spaced from the wall to provide a uniform stand off from the wall. When laying the tiles, a spacer 8 is preferably positioned at a corner as soon as there is one tile at the corner and of course it must be positioned before there are more than two tiles in place.

If there is some adhesive on the wall or tile in the region of the spacer 8, that will have little effect because it will be displaced as the spacer is pressed against the wall; the open construction of the spacer facilitates such displacement of adhesive.

Whilst one particular form of spacer has been shown in Figs. 2a to 2c, it will be appreciated that many other forms are possible and some of these are shown in Figs. 4a and 4b to 8a and 8b in which in each case the reference numeral 4 is used to designate the front portions and the reference numeral 5 is used to designate the back portion(s). It will be seen that in the case of the tile spacers shown in Figs. 4a and 4b to Figs. 7a and 7b, the front portions 4 are provided by a single cross-shaped member but that, in the case of the tile spacer shown in Figs. 8a and 8b, the front portions 4 consist of four separate portions, each projecting forwardly from the back portion 5. In the case of the tile spacers shown in Figs. 4a and 4b, 5a and 5b and 8a and 8b, the back portion is a member of angular shape, whereas in the case of the tile spacer shown in Figs. 6a and 6b the back portion is formed by a cross-shaped member at 45" to the cross-shaped member that forms the front portion, and in the case of the tile spacer shown in Figs. 7a and 7b the back portion is formed by four separate portions each projecting rearwardly from the front portion 4. In all the examples the back portion extends into all four of the quadrants around the centre of the spacer.

When tiling near an edge it may be that only a part of the tile spacer is desired and it is therefore advantageous to be able to break off a part of the spacer. Figs. 9a to 9c show a spacer like the one shown in Figs. 2a to 2c but with four notches 9 formed in the bottom face of the ring 5 of the spacer. The notches are located immediately below respective arms of the cross-member 4. The presence of the notches 9 allows portions of the ring 5 to be broken off easily; furthermore if two adjacent portions of the ring 5 are broken the end of that arm of the cross-member 4 that then becomes a free end can readily be broken off so that only about one half of the spacer remains; as will be understood that half portion of a spacer can be useful for placing at an edge of an array of tiles. If desired, notches can also be provided in the bottom faces of the four arms of the cross-member, at their inner ends, to facilitate breaking off of those arms.

Claims

Claims 1. An array of rectangular tiles fixed by a layer of material to a substrate, in which array there are a plurality of interstices each at the adjacent corners of four tiles, the array including a plurality of tile spacers located at respective interstices of the array, each tile spacer including four front portions spaced 900 apart around the interstice, each front portion being interposed between respective adjacent side edges of tiles and further including a back portion which is interposed between the substrate and each of the four tiles adjacent to the interstice.
2. An array according to claim 1, in which the four front portions are in the form of a single cross-shaped portion.
3. An array according to claim 1 or 2, in which the back portion comprises a generally annular portion on which each of the four front portions are mounted.
4. An array according to claim 3, in which the generally annular portion is substantially circular.
5. An array according to any preceding claim, in which the four front portions and the back portion are integral with one another.
6. An array according to any preceding claim, in which the overall depth of the back portion is about 3 mm.
7. An array according to any preceding claim, in which the width of each front portion is about 2 mm.
8. An array according to any preceding claim, comprising an array of wall tiles fixed to a vertical wall.
9. A tile spacer suitable for use as one of a plurality of tile spacers in an array of rectangular tiles according to any preceding claim, the tile spacer including four front portions spaced 90" apart about a central axis and a back portion which extends into each of the four 909 sectors around the central axis.
10. A tile spacer according to claim 9, in which a part of the back portion, together with one or more associated front portions can be broken off to leave a back portion which extends into fewer than all four of the quadrants around the central axis.
11. A method of fixing rectangular tiles in an array to a substrate, to form an array of rectangular tiles on the substrate, the array being as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8.