GB2398098A

GB2398098A - Apparatus for pointing or grouting building or flooring elements such as paving slabs

Info

Publication number: GB2398098A
Application number: GB0302171A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Edward Suggett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-01-31
Filing date: 2003-01-31
Publication date: 2004-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-31
Also published as: GB2398098B; GB0302171D0

Abstract

Apparatus for use in pointing or grouting building or flooring elements, comprising opposite elongate wall members which in use define a hopper for receiving mortar or a grouting material, the hopper having an elongate outlet opening which, is held below the upper surface of the building or flooring elements and through which the mortar or grouting material is delivered into the space therebetween. The apparatus comprises depth limitation means in the form of an elongate strip which can be attached with an upper surface of the building of flooring element. A pointing means can be applied to the mortar for packing. There is also provided a method of use of such an apparatus.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR USE IN

POINTING OR GROUTING BUILDING OR FLOORING ELEMENTS

SUCH AS PAVING SLABS OR THE LIKE

The present invention relates to apparatus and a method foruse in pointing or grouting building or flooring elements, such as paving slabs, tiles or.'the like.

When laying a floor with flooring elements, such as quarry tiles, ceramic tiles, flagstones, paving slabs, bricks or other building elements, it is usual to point or grout 0 the gaps or joints between the individual tiles, paving slabs, or bricks with a mortar or a grouting material. Pointing or grouting paving slabs or tiles is usually carried out in two or three stages which are well known to a skilled tradesperson. First, the mortar or grouting material is applied to the surface of the tiles and the mortar is spread using a device known as a float or spreader to push the mortar into the gaps or joints between the tiles and force it thereinto. Second, excess mortar on the surface of the tiles is scraped away by wiping the tile surface with the float. Third, it is necessary to clean the tile surface with a sponge and plenty of water. The sponge can then be used to wipe the gaps so as to shape the mortar in the Lapse Such a procedure for pointing or grouting building or flooring elements is labour-intensive and time consuming and 2 0 entails the tradesperson spending a lot of time in cleaning from the surface of the building or flooring elements material which he or she has just placed there him or herself.

When pointing bricks, paving slabs or other building elements a trowel is normally used to apply mortar into gaps or joints between the paving slabs or the like. This method often involves wasting a significant amount of mortar by spillage on the surface of the paving slabs and it is very difficult, if not impossible, to clean away mortar which has been spilled onto the upper surface of the paving slabs. Even when the paving slabs are pointed with a great degree of care, it is often inevitable that mortar will be spilled onto the surface of the paving slabs and stain them. In particular, the surface ofthe slabs near the gaps orjoints will normallybecome stained as the gaps are filled with the mortar.

0 The present invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for use in pointing or grouting building or flooring elements such as paving slabs, tiles, bricks or the like which is very efficient at filling the gaps or joints between the elements, and which minimises or substantially prevents the spillage of mortar or grouting material onto the surface of the elements as they are pointed. Pointing or grouting using the apparatus of the invention can advantageously be carried out with greater accuracy and without requiring an inordinate time to clean the building or flooring elements after they have been pointed.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for use in 2 0 pointing or grouting building or flooring elements such as paving slabs or the like, comprising opposite elongate wall members which in use define a hopper for receiving mortar or a grouting material, the hopper having an elongate outlet opening which, in use, is held below the upper surface of the building or flooring elements and through which the mortar or grouting material is delivered into the space between them.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for use in pointing or grouting building or flooring elements such as paving slabs or the like, comprising aligning apparatus over at least part of the space between the building or flooring elements, the apparatus comprising opposite elongate wall members which in use define a hopper, the hopper having an elongate outlet opening which can be held below the upper surface of the building or flooring elements, introducing mortar or a grouting material into the hopper of the apparatus so that the mortar or grouting 0 material can be delivered through the outlet opening into the space between the building or flooring elements, and moving the apparatus along the space in at least one direction to deliver the mortar or grouting material into the remainder of the space between the building or flooring elements.

it is preferred that the apparatus may further comprise means provided on the wall members to limit the depth at which the elongate outlet opening of the hopper may be held in the space between the building or flooring elements.

The means may be provided on an outer face of the wall members and sufficiently 2 0 spaced from a lower edge of the wall members so that the space determines the depth at which the outlet opening can be held in a space between for example paving slabs.

The depth limitation means may project sufficiently from each wall member so that, in use, it may engage with an upper surface of a paving slab to hold the apparatus in place with the outlet opening below the upper surface of the paving slabs.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the depth limitation means may be an elongate strip of material which extends parallel to the elongate wall member. The means may be permanently or releasably attached to the wall members by a suitable process such as, for example, by welding, the application of an adhesive, or the application of one or more fixing elements such as pins, scre,ws or rivets. If the depth limitation means are secured to the wall members by welding, any known welding process may be used, for example resistance welding or arc welding. In embodiments in which the depth limitation means is releasably attached to each wall member, the 0 means may be attached at different pre-detemined positions to adjust the depth at which at least a lower part of the wall members and, consequently the depth at which the elongate outlet opening can be held below the space between paving slabs.

It is preferred that the wall members of the apparatus of the invention are adjustable wherein the size of the outlet opening can be varied to accommodate the size of spaces between paving slabs.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is provided with two opposed elongate wall members which are fonned into a body to define a hopper.

2 0 The body has a closed proximal end and an open distal end. At the proximal end of the body of the apparatus, the wall members are joined to each other by an arcuate portion and the wall members extend away from the arcuate portion to an open distal end. In this embodiment, the width of the outlet opening may gradually increase as the wall members extend away from the arcuate portion of the body. The wall members are naturally biased to adopt a configuration in which the outlet opening of the hopper of the apparatus has a certain size. The size of the outlet opening can be varied by adjusting the wall members against their bias. This is particularly advantageous because the apparatus of the invention can be used in pointing or grouting paving slabs having different sized spaces between the paving slabs.

By adjusting the wall members the size ofthe outlet opening can be changed so that at least a part of the hopper can be inserted into different sized spaces between paving slabs. Advantageously, the part of the wall members below the upper surface of the 0 paving slabs may be held in biased engagement with side walls of the paving slabs.

Thus, the apparatus of the invention is particularly useful for use in pointing or grouting paving slabs, tiles or,the like in which the spaces between the paving slabs, tiles are not uniform in size.

Another advantage of the apparatus of the invention is that the outlet opening can be held below the upper surface of the paving slabs so that beneficially the mortar or grouting material in the hopper can be delivered into the space through the outlet opening of the hopper without a significant amountof mortar or grouting material being spilled or otherwise staining the region of the paving slabs next to the spaces.

2 0 Consequently, the apparatus and method of the invention provide an efficient and simple solution to assist a tradesperson in pointing or grouting paving slabs or tiles which minimises or substantially prevents mortar being spilled onto paving slabs and the need to clean the slabs or tiles during auld/or after pointing.

The apparatus of the invention may comprise two opposite elongate wall members which in use define a hopper for receiving mortar or a grouting material. The wall members may form separate components or they may form a unitary body. If the wall members are separate components, a hopper may be defined by arranging the wall members substantially opposite one another in which at least part of each wall member is present in a space between paving slabs or the lik Fe so that an outlet opening formed by the opposite wall members is held below the upper surface of the paving slabs. It is preferred that the wall members form a unitary body in which an end member, which may have an arcuate shape, is formed at a proximal end of the body 0 and the wall members extend therefrom. Desirably, in this embodiment the distal end of the body may be open so that the size of the outlet opening can be changed to accommodate variations in size of the space between paving slabs. Alternatively, the distal end of the body of the hopper may be closed in which case the outlet opening adopts a single size. It

It is preferred that each wall member of the hopper comprises an upper portion and a lower portion in which the upper portion is inclined relative to the general plane ofthe lower portion. The upper portion of the wall members may extend substantially transversely from the lower portion of the wall members so that the hopper, in cross section, may have a funnel-shape. At least part of the lower portion of the wall members may, in use, be held in the space between the paving slabs. The depth limitation means which may be provided on the wall members to limit the depth at which the lower portion of the wall members may enter the space may be attached to at least part of the lower portion or upper portion of the wall members.

Advantageously, the inclined upper portions of the wall members of the hopper encourage the mortar or grouting material introduced into the hopper to pass through the elongate outlet opening.

It is preferred that the upper edge of the wall members may be tapered from the proximal end of the hopper to the distal end.

It is preferred that a proximal end of the hopper body has a lower edge which may be raised above the lower edge of the wall members so that the lower edge of the 0 proximal end can function as a scraper edge. When the hopper of the apparatus is aligned with a space between the paving slabs and the elongate outlet opening is held below the upper surface of the paving slabs, mortar or grouting material can be introduced into the hopper for delivery into the space through the outlet opening, and the apparatus can be moved in a direction along the space so that the scraper edge of the proximal end can function to scrape the opening of the space so that advantageously the mortar can be made substantially flush with the upper surface of the paving slabs. Any mortar or grouting material present in the hopper above the space may be delivered into a free part of the space as the apparatus is moved along the space.

The apparatus of the invention may be made from any suitable material, such as a plastics or a metal material. The apparatus may be made from more than one material.

Desirably, the apparatus may be substantially resistant to harsh weather conditions.

The apparatus of the invention may have a size and shape which is suitable for pointing or grouting different types of paving slabs, quarry tiles, ceramic tiles, bricks or the like. The apparatus would be suitable for outdoor or indoor use, for example pointing floor tiles in a kitchen. The apparatus may be made from a suitable material and have a suitable size or shape for carrying out different types of pointing or grouting work. For example, if it is desired to point the space between paving slabs or tiles wherein the space is substantially straight then the apparatus maybe such that the wall members which define the hopper are substantially rigid; if the space to be pointed is curved the wall members of the hopper may be sufficiently flexible so that 0 the inherent flexibility of the material of the wall members may allow the apparatus to be moved along a curved space to deliver mortar or grouting material thereinto; if it is desired to point or fill a corner space, in a different embodiment of the apparatus the wall members may comprise at least two portions which are angled, that is one portion may extend substantially transversely, preferably substantially perpendicularly, from the other portion so that the wall members can be used in a corner space. In this embodiment, the proximal and distal ends of the hopper may both be closed.

The method of the invention provides an efficient and clean way of pointing or grouting the space between paving slabs, tiles or the like. Advantageously, the 2 0 apparatus can be used for pointing or grouting paving slabs or tiles which have been newly laid or for re-pointing paving slabs or tiles where the mortar or grouting material between slabs or tiles has become dislodged or loose, for instance by weathering action or by normal wear- and-tear.

In use, when the elongate outlet opening of the hopper is held below the upper surface of the paving slabs and mortar or grouting material is introduced into the hopper for delivery into the space between the paving slabs, typically the mortar or grouting material may fill any vacant space beneath the paving slabs before the space between the paving slabs is filled itself by the mortar. In many circumstances, it is desirable to point the gap or space with a separate pointing tool in order t,p pack the mortar into the space and improve its adhesion to the paving slabs. This is especially useful for loose paving slabs where it may be required to compact the mortar to prevent the "rocking" movement of the slabs. Furthermore, if the mortar or grouting material has a relatively 0 dry consistency, it is advantageous to use the separate pointing tool to ram the mortar into the space.

Preferred embodiments of the invention shall now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the apparatus; and Figure 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus held in a space between two paving slabs.

2 0 Referring to Figure 1, there is shown an apparatus embodying the invention generally designated by reference numeral 1 1. The apparatus l 1 has two elongate side walls 12, 13 which extend from a closed proximal end 14 to an open distal end IS. The proximal end 14 of the apparatus 1 l has a convex shape and the apparatus 11 is formed as an integral body deeming a hopper 16 for receiving mortar or grouting material. The hopper 16 has an elongate outlet opening 17 through which in use the mortar or grouting material introduced into the hopper 16 may pass through. The side walls 12, 13 of the apparatus 11 have an upper edge which tapers from the proximal end 14 of the body to the distal end 1 S. The side walls 12, 13 have an upper portion 19, 20 respectively and a lower portion 21, 22 respectively. The upper portion 19,20 of the side walls 12, 13 are inclined with respect to the low,er portions 21, 22 of the side walls 12, 13. The upper portions 19, 20 of the side walls 12, 13 are inclined inwardly to encourage mortar or grouting material introduced into the hopper 16 to pass down the side walls 12, 13 and through the outlet opening 17. At least part ofthe lower portion 21, 22 of the side walls 12, 13 in use are held in the space or gap between the paving slabs or tiles by means of projections 23.

The projection 23 is an elongate strip of material which is attached to an outer face of each of the side walls 12, 13. The projection 23 may typically be attached to the side walls 12, l 3 of the apparatus l l by form engagement, a suitable adhesive, by a welded joint, or by one or more rivets. The projection 23 is located along the lower portion 21, 22 of the walls 12, 13. The projections 23 serve to hold the apparatus l l in a space or gap between paving slabs and thereby in use to keep the elongate outlet opening 17 below the upper surface of the paving slabs. The location of the projections 23 on the side walls 12, 13 therefore limits the depth at which the apparatus 11 may access the space between paving slabs and the depth at which a part of the lower portion 21, 22 of the wall may be held in the space.

As the walls 12, 13 extend away Tom the proximal end 14 of the hopper 16 the width of the outlet opening 17 gradually increases. Consequently, the walls 12, 13 extend away from each other by an increasing amount. When the apparatus is not in use, a lower edge 24 of the walls 12, 13 may define a V-shaped opening 17. When it is desired to use the apparatus 11, the outlet opening 17 is aligned over at least part of the space or gap between paving slabs. A part of the walls 12, 13 toward the distal end 15 of the apparatus 11 may then be gripped by a user in order to push the walls 12, 13 towards each other and to decrease the width of the opening 17. As the side walls 12, 13 are gripped they are pushed against their natural bias and the part of the apparatus l l below the projections 23 on the walls 12, 13 can then be inserted into the JO space between the paving slabs. The outlet opening 17 is then held below the upper surface of the paving slabs 25 by means of the projections 23. When the user releases his grip on the walls 12, 13 they may then be held in biased engagement against the side walls of the paving slabs 25. The user can now introduce mortar or grouting material into the hopper 16 of the apparatus 11 in order to fill the space 26 between the paving slabs 25. As the mortar or grouting material passes into the space 26 through the outlet opening 17 of the apparatus 11 the user may use a further pointing tool 30 (shown in Figure 3) in order to compact the mortar into the space 26. As the space 26 is filled with mortar, the user may then grip the side walls 12, 13 of the apparatus in order to move it along the space 26 and introduce more mortar or grouting material into the hopper 16 so as to fill the vacant space remaining. The method and apparatus provides an efficient way to point or grout the space between paving slabs or tiles or the like because substantially all of the mortar or grouting material introduced into the hopper 16 of the apparatus 11 can be used to fill the space 26 with substantially no mortar being splashed onto the upper surface of the paving slabs 25 and without the need to clean the paving slabs 25 of any excess mortar which in prior art methods for pointing paving slabs would typically spill over from the space 26 and involve the need to scrape the mortar into place and clean the upper surface of the slabs 25 along the space 26. The method and apparatus of the invention also provide a controlled way in which to point or re-point paving slabs or tiles.

As the apparatus 11 is moved along the space or gap 26, it is possible to move the apparatus in one of two directions, either with the proximal end 14 leading or with the distal end 15 leading. If it is arranged to move the apparatus 11 such that the distal end 15 is the leading end and the proximal end 14 is the trailing end, then the lower edge 27 of the proximal end 14 of the apparatus 11 may be used to scrape any mortar or grouting material in the hopper into the space 26 which has not yet been filled.

Furthermore the scraper edge 27 may slide over the upper surface of the slabs 25 to level off the mortar in the space 26 thus enhancing the operation of the invention.

When the space 26 has been billed with mortar the apparatus 11 may then be removed from the space to be used for pointing another paving slab.

Referring to Figure 2, there is shown a different embodiment of the apparatus of the invention in which walls 12, 13 are Donned as separate elements and can be moved along the space 26 independently of one another. The same reference numerals illustrate the same features of this embodiment. The wall members 12, 13 have an upper portion 19, 20 respectively which are inclined toward each other and a lower portion 21, 22 at least part of which is ananged to be held in the space 26 by means of the projections 24.

Referring to Figure 3, a sectional view of the apparatus is shown of the inclined upper portions 19, 20 and the lower portions 21, 22 of the walls 12, 13 of the apparatus 1 1.

In cross-section the apparatus 11 has a funnel shape and the inclined wall surfaces are beneficial in encouraging the mortar or grouting material introduced into the hopper 16 to be delivered into the space 26 thereby optimising the use of the mortar to fill the space 26. A pointing tool 30 may be used to pack the mortar in the space 26.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in pointing or grouting building or flooring elements, comprising opposite elongate wall members which in use define a hopper for receiving mortar or a grouting material, the hopper having an elongate outlet opening which, in use, is held below the upper surface of the building or flooring elements and through which the mortar or grouting material is delivered into the space therebetween.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising depth limitation means provided on a wall member to limit the depth at which the elongate outlet opening of the hopper may be held in the space between the building or flooring elements.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the depth limitation means is provided on an outer face ofthe wall member and spaced from the elongate opening so as to define a depth at which the outlet opening is held below the upper surface of said building or flooring elements.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the depth limitation 2 o means projects sufficiently from each wall member such that, in use, the depth limitation means engages with an upper surface of said building or flooring element.

5. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the depth limitation means is an elongate strip of material which extends parallel to the elongate wall member.

6. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the depth limitation means is releasably attached to the wall member.

Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein the depth limitation means is attached at different pre-determined positions to adjust the depth at which said elongate outlet opening is held below the space between building or flooring 1 o elements.

8. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 7 wherein a depth limitation means is provided on each wall member.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the relative positions of the wall members are adjustable so as to vary the size of the outlet opening.

10. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, further comprising biasing means operable to hold at least a portion of the wall members located, in use, below 2 o the upper surface of the building or flooring elements, in biased engagement with side walls of the building or flooring elements.

1 1. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein each wall member of the hopper comprises an upper portion and a lower portion in which the upper portion is inclined relative to the general plane of the lower portion.

12. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein at least a portion ofthe edge of the upper portion of each wall member is tapered from a proximal end of the hopper to a distal end of the hopper.

13. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein a proximal end of the hopper body has a lower edge which may be raised above the lower edge ofthe wall members so as to function as a scraper edge.

14. A method for use in pointing or grouting building or flooring elements, comprising aligning apparatus over at least part of the space between the building or flooring elements, the apparatus comprising opposite elongate wall members which in use define a hopper, the hopper having an elongate outlet opening which can be held below the upper surface of the building or flooring elements, introducing mortar or a grouting material into the hopper of the apparatus so that the mortar or grouting material can be delivered through the outlet opening into the space between the building or flooring elements, and moving the apparatus along the space in at least one direction to deliver the mortar or grouting material into the 2 o remainder of the space between the building or flooring elements.

15. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. Method substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. 5]