GB2388126A

GB2388126A - Tile jig

Info

Publication number: GB2388126A
Application number: GB0210028A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Graham Fisher
Original assignee: RAY FISHER CONSTRUCTION Ltd
Current assignee: RAY FISHER CONSTRUCTION Ltd
Priority date: 2002-05-02
Filing date: 2002-05-02
Publication date: 2003-11-05
Also published as: GB0210028D0

Abstract

A tile jig in the form of a sheet comprises a plurality of members 1, 2 defining an open grid with spacer members situated at the intersections 4 and along the members 5. Sprues 7 and discs 8 are situated between the members 1, 2 and may be removed to accommodate articles on the surface to be tiled such as electrical sockets. The sheet is moulded from a plastics material and can include means (9, 10 figure 1) to fasten it to a similar sheet or sheets. Apertures may be provided to aid affixing the sheet to a surface.

Description

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Apara_tus for use In tiling The present invention relates to apparatus for use in tiling.

One difficulty in tiling, encountered by both amateurs and professionals, is in working out how the tiles are to be laid out, both to accommodate the shape of, and any s obstacles on, a surface to be tiled and to obtain a desired aesthetic effect. Another difficulty is in maintaining spacing between and aligornent of tiles.

The present invention has been made in consideration of these problems.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for use in tiling composing a sheet of material which may be affixed to a surface, the sheet having a 0 plurality of spacer members extending from a surface thereof, the spacer members being arranged to space apart tiles placed on the sheet in a predetermined arrangement.

Provision of spacers facilitates alignment and arrangement of tiles. The sheet enables a layout of tiles to be visualized before tiles are installed.

The sheet may have one or more apertures extending therethrough. In particular it s may be comprised of a plurality of members defining an open grid. In this case the spacers are formed on the members and are preferably located, at least, at intersections between the members.

The sheet is preferably moulded from a plastics material and may be moulded in a single piece. The sheet preferably includes means to fasten it to a similar sheet or sheets.

so Such means may comprise male and female formations.

The sheet preferably includes means for affixing it to a surface. Such means may comprise an adhesive, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, disposed on a surface ofthe sheet. Alternatively or additionally the means may comprise apertures formed through the

sheet for receiving fasteners.

( Preferably packing pieces are detachably provided on the sheet. The packing pieces may comprise discs. The sheet may comprise an edge strip. This may be formed unitarily with the sheet, or separately. Ifformed separately means are preferably provided 5 for fastening the edge strip to the sheet.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of apparatus according to the invention, placed in against a wall; Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of part of the apparatus of figure 1; Figure 3 shows a side view of part of each of the adjacent pieces of apparatus of figure 1; Figure 4 shows a crossectional view through part ofthe apparatus of figure 5 1 with tiles fitted and hidden detail shown by broken lines; Figure 5 shows a crossectional part cut-away view of a modified version of the apparatus of figure 1 fitted to a body and with tiles fitted; Figure 6 shows a plan view of a room; and Figure 7 shows an elevational view of the room of figure 6 in the direction 20 of arrow 7.

Referring to the figures, apparatus for use in tiling comprises a grid moulded in one piece from plastics material. The grid comprises a first set of spaced apart, substantially parallel, flat, elongate members I intersecting with a second set of spaced

( apart, substantially parallel, flat, elongate members 2 extending substantially at right angles to the first set to define a plurality of substantially square and rectangular apertures 3.

At intersections between the members I and 2 raised spacers 4 are formed. The spacers comprise an arm or arms extending in the direction of one or both of the 5 intersecting members. In most cases the spacers are cross shaped and in othersjust linear.

Further intermediate linear spacers 5 are formed on the members 1,2 substantially midway between most intersections between members 1,2.

Extending between substantially the midpoint of the members 1,2 forming each of two opposite sides of each substantially square aperture 3 are sprees 7 supporting packing 0 pieces 8. The packing pieces 8 comprise discs which lie substantially in the place of the members 1,2.

Opposite outside edges of the grid comprise male 9 and female 10 formations respectively to enable adjacent grids to be joined together. These connations also enable other components to be joined to the grid, including edge trim I I and corner quadrants 5 12. The apparatus is for use in tiling surfaces, for example walls and floors. A grid is fastened to a surface to be tiled. For surfaces of larger area than a single grid two or more grids may be fastened together. Part of the or each Mid may be removed by cutting or snapping the grid to fit the grid to the surface, and around any objects on the surface.

No Figures 6 and 7 show grids fastened to a bathroom floor and wall respectively. The wall includes a recessed arch 13 into which a grid is fitted. A curved trim member may be fitted around the inside of the arch 13.

The grid may be fastened to a surface using an adhesive, particularly a double

sided self adhesive tape or pads fastened to the members 1,2 and/or discs 7. Such tape or pads may be provided on the Ad and covered with a backing tape which can be removed to reveal the adhesive for use. Where the grid is to be fastened to an uneven surface one or more discs s 8 may be snapped off and used to fill any space between the surface and the grid, as shown in figure 5.

Alternatively and/or additionally a gad may be fastened to a surface by fasteners, such as pins, a through the apertures 6 in the grid.

The discs 7 and/or part of the members 1,2 may be removed to accommodate 10 articles on a surface such as electrical switches 14 and sockets 15.

Once the and has been fastened to a surface tiles 16 are placed on the god between the spaces 4,5. The grid is sized and tiles chosen so that the tiles fit closely within the spacers. The tiles 16 are secured to the grid and/or to the surface to which the grid is fastened. The tiles 16 may be secured using conventional tile adhesive ancl/or the 15 exposed surfaces of the members 1,2 of the grid may include a self-adhesive material, for example double sided tape or pads.

The spaces between adjacent tiles are then filled with grout in the conventional way. Apparatus according to the invention considerably facilitates tiling. It enables the to layout of tiles to be determined prior to affixing any tiles, and then facilitates fixing and spacing oftiles. The apparatus may be made in any suitable size and to accommodate any size oftile, brick slip or other building block. The apparatus need not necessarily define a square or rectangular grid. Rather, other patterns, such as herringbone, are possible.

( The above embodunents are described by way of example only. Many variations ( are possible without departing from the invention.

s

Claims

I. Apparatus for use in tiling comprising a sheet of material which may be affixed to a surface, the sheet having a plurality of spacer members extending from a surface thereof, the spacer members being arranged to space apart tiles placed on the 5 sheet in a predetermined arrangement.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim I comprising a plurality of members defining an open grid.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spacers are formed on the members.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spacers are located, at least, at the 10 intersections between the members.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sheet is moukied from a plastics material.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising means to fasten it to a similar sheet or sheets.

15
7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising means for affixing it to a surface.
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means for affixing comprises an adhesive.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the means for affixing comprises 20 apertures formed through the sheet for receiving fasteners.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein packing pieces are detachably formed on the sheet.
11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sheet comprises an edge strip.

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12. Apparatus for use in tiling substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.