GB2411350A - Vertically adjustable bathroom sealing strip - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for sealing the gap between a tiled surround (1) and a bath or shower tray (2) comprises one or more locating strip(s) (4) associated with the bottom row of tiling and one or more sealing strip(s) (5) which engages with both the locating strip(s) and the bath or shower tray. Suitably, the locating strip engages the front, rear and bottom of the tiles and each tile is fixed by adhesive (6) to a rear surface (3). The system allows for vertical movement between the tiles and the bath or shower tray and avoids the use of any sealing compound.

Description

241 1 350

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE BATHROOM SEALING STRIP

This invention relates to a flexible continuous elongated sealing strip, or seal, fitted into a multitude of individual locating catches, or a single locating strip, previously fixed between two substantially perpendicular surfaces that tend to undergo relative vertical motion. The inventive sealing system is especially, but not exclusively, for application to an item of sanitaryware, such as a bath or shower tray, to prevent the ingress of water between the sanitaryware item and an adjacent tiled wall. The inventive seal has other applications where a watertight seal is required between two substantially perpendicular surfaces such as a skirting board seal between a floor and a wall, or a seal between a worktop surface and an adjacent wall.

There are many types of sealing strip on sale for use in sealing the gap between a bath or shower tray and a wall, especially a tiled wall. For example, there are: Flexible waterproof sealing compounds applied as a liquid that then harden in the gap between the tiles and the lower surface. The seal formed splits if, later on, there is sinkage of the lower surface, and the sealing materials used tend to go slimy with use over time, and turn black with ingrowing mould. Once the seal splits the split forms a powerful capillary path for subsequent leakage.

Flexible sealing strips that are fixed by glue to both surfaces. These suffer from the glue unstacking over time in a moist environment.

Rigid sealing strips that may be fixed by glue to the lower surface only. These have the advantage of moving down with the lower surface if sinkage occurs, but the disadvantage of unsticking, and of not being able to accommodate unevenness in the tiled surface being sealed against Sealing strips that are held in place by covering a rear section of the sealing strip with tiles during the tiling process. These have the disadvantage that the sealing strip may not push hard against the lower surface because at the time of fitting it was only pressed down by the weight of bles that were not yet fixed rigidly in position, and hence there may not be sufficient seal downforce to accommodate sinkage of the lower surface over time.

United States Patent 3,667,177 teaches a sealing system in which a sealing strip is rigidly held in place by a continuous locating strip previously fitted underneath a row of tiling. A good downforce on the seal is provided, but there is no whole body movement of the seal to accommodate sinkage of the lower surface, just flexing of the sealing strip.

This invention provides a sealing system in which a continuous length of sealing strip is fixed firmly in place between two surfaces such as a tiled wall and a bath by snap location into a multitude of individual catches, or a single continuous locating strip, previously fixed under the tiles. Sealing compounds are not used. In all but one embodiment of the invention the seal location features are positioned partly under and partly behind tiles that are in the process of being fixed. The exception is an embodiment of the invention in which the locating catches have a flat part that is inserted into a gap underneath previously fitted tiles and then knocked further into a backing surface. In all cases the inventive seal can accommodate substantial vertical sinkage (several millimetres) of the bath or similar lower surface by being pushed by hand bodily downwards on or with its locating catches or locating strip so as to maintain sealing contact with the lower surface, using a variety of mechanisms that prevent the seal moving back up again. In addition, flexing of the seal lower lengthwise edge accommodates minor variations in the position of the lower surface.

If snkage of the lower surface becomes excessive, such that the full range of downward adjustability of the seal on or with its locating catches or locating strip is used up, then the established method of jacking the bath or other item back upwards into its original position can be followed. The mechanisms provided to prevent the seal moving back up when pushed down by hand force can be overpowered by the jacking process, or the seal can first be levered back up into its original position prior to jacking the bath back up.

There is an air gap between the intersection of the two surfaces being sealed and the positions where the edges of the inventive sealing strip touch the surfaces. These air gaps prevent capillary forces acting to leak water towards the surface intersection. Moreover, for embodiments of the inventive sealing system where individual locating catches are used, no leakage route is created by the catches along which capillary forces could transmit any leaked water lengthwise along the surface intersection, because the locating catches are non-continuous.

The sealing strip can have various decorative finishes.

Once the sealing strip is fitted the locating catches, or locating strip, are hidden.

Mitre joints can be cut by the user to fit the sealing strip around corners. Alternatively, separate corner pieces can be offered. To help obtain a good right angled corner seal, particularly if mitre joints are used, the sealing strip maintains a near constant cross sectional profile and orientation as it is pushed downwards to follow vertical sinkage of the lower surface, except for some varying amount of distortion of the seal lower edge.

Seal end pieces can be offered for the exposed ends of the sealing strip, for a better visible appearance.

Seven embodiments of the inventive sealing system will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross section viewed sideways to the tiling of a first embodiment of the inventive sealing system, in which a sealing strip is fitted onto locating catches fitted partly under and partly behind tiles during tiling. The type of locating catch shown in Figure 1 can not itself move downwards if sinkage of the lower surface occurs but does allow the seal to move further down on the catch for continued effective sealing with the lower surface.

Figure 2 shows the same locating catches and sealing strip as in Figure 1 but Illustrates the case when the lower surface has moved down and the seal has been pushed down on the locating catches so that it remains in contact with the lower surface.

Figure 3 is a three dimensional view of the locating catch featured in Figure 1. The arrows indicate how the arms of the catch can flex to accommodate being fitted to different thicknesses of tile.

Figure 4 is a three dimensional view of a section of the sealing strip featured in Figure 1.

Figure 5 shows two side views of just the tile and the locating catch from Figure 1. The first view is with a thin tile, with the arrow pointing to a second view with a thicker tile, shown to indicate how the locating catch can accommodate to a different thickness of tile.

Figure 6 shows the locating catch and tile of Figure 5 with the addition of the sealing strip from Figure 1, shown in its initial inserted position between the catch and the tile.

Figure 7 is similar to the Figure 5 but views the catch and tile from above. The arms of the catch are shown flexing to accommodate use with different thicknesses of tile. The first view is with a thin tile, with the arrow pointing to a second view with a thicker tile. The tile is shown with a dotted outline so that the catch can be seen.

Figure 8 is a top view of the locating catch from Figure 1 in its free undistorted shape. The arrows indicate how the catch arms would be pulled towards each other in order to fit the catch under a tile.

figure 9 Is a three dimensional view of an alternative location catch, similar in principle to that used in figure 1, but with the catch front and back features swapped around, and with some other differences figure 10 shows a locating strip that has the same seal location function as the individual locating catches shown in Figure 3, but with the difference of being a single elongated locating strip of a similar length to the sealing strip it locates.

figure 11 is an individual locating catch with the same cross section as the sealing strip shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a sequence of four cross section views showing the location strip of Figure 10 or the location catches of Figure 11 in use. The first view of Figure 12 features two different thicknesses of tile fitted over the location strip or catches. Then, following the block arrow, the next view shows the situation when the sealing strip from Figure 1 has been inserted into the location strip or catches and is touching against the lower surface from Figure 1. Finally, following the next arrow there is a view in which the lower surface has moved down and the sealing strip has followed this movement by being pushed down on its locating strip or catches. For clarity the rear surface and adhesive shown in Figure 1 is omitted in Figure 12.

Figure 13 is as Figure 1 but shows a thinner locating catch that is inserted underneath tiles that have already been fixed.

Figure 14 shows the same sealing strip as used in Figure 1 fitted over the thin locating catches shown in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is the same as Figure 14 but shows the situation where the lower surface has moved downwards and the seal has been pushed down on the thin locating catches to follow this movement.

Figure 16 is a three dimensional view of the thin locating catch shown in Figure 13 in its free undistorted shape.

Figure 17 shows a corner piece suitable for use with the sealing strip shown in figure 1, and also suitable for use with minor modifications with other similar shaped sealing strips.

Figure 18 is a three dimensional view of a section of the sealing strip shown in Figure 1, illustrating the possibilities for decorative finishes to the outer seal surface.

figure 19 shows an end piece suitable for use with the sealing strip shown in Figure 1 and also suitable for use with minor modifications with other similar shaped sealing strips.

Figure 20 is similar to Figure 19 but shows an alternative more decorative seal end piece.

Figure 21 is similar to Figure 17 but shows an alternative neater and more compact design of sealing strip corner piece.

figure 22 is the same as Figure 21 but shows the corner piece with the sealing strip attached to it In the fitted position. The arrow indicates how the corner piece can be pushed down if necessary to match movement of the seal so as to retain contact with the lower surface being sealed with.

figure 23 is a cross section viewed sideways to the tiling of another embodiment of the inventive sealing system, in which a sealing strip is fitted onto locating catches fitted partly under and partly behind tlies during tiling. The locating catch translates downwards on a rear adjustor plate if sinkage of the lower surface occurs. The dashed line drawn inside the tile profile indicates that various thicknesses of tile can be used with the same locating catch.

Figure 24 is the same as Figure 23 but shows the situation where the lower surface has moved downwards and the seal and locating catches have been pushed down on the rear adjustor plate to follow this movement.

Figure 25 Is a three dimensional view of the locating catch shown in Figure 23 together with the rear adjuster that it is inserted into.

Figure 26 is a three dimensional view of the rear adjuster shown in Figure 23.

Figure 27 is a three dimensional view of the locating catch shown in Figure 23.

Figure 28 is a top cross sectional view of the locating catch inserted Into the rear adjustor as shown In figure 23. The dashed rectangle indicates the position of a tile.

Figure 29 is a rear view of the rear adjustor shown in Figure 23 illustrating an embossed warning message as to where adhesive should and should not be placed.

Figure 30 is a rear view of a tile showing the correct positioning of adhesive when using the type of locating catches shown in Figure 23.

Figure 31 is a cross section viewed sideways to the tiling of another embodiment of the inventive sealing system, in which a sealing strip is fitted onto locating catches fitted partly under and partly behind tiling during tiling. The type of locating catch shown in Figure 31 rotates downwards if sinkage of the lower surface occurs, so that the sealing strip remains in sealing contact with the lower surface.

Figure 32 shows the locating catches and sealing strip from Figure 31 being used with a thicker tile.

Figure 33 is the same as Figure 31 but shows, to a slightly larger scale, the situation where the lower surface has moved downwards and the seal has been pushed down to follow this movement, such that the locating catches have rotated, trapping part of the seal under the lower edge of the tiling.

Figure 34 is a three dimensional view of the locating catch shown in Figure 31.

Figure 35 is a three dimensional view of a section of the sealing strip shown in Figure 31.

With reference to the drawings, there is shown in Figures 1 to 8 a first and preferred embodiment of the inventive sealing system in which a locating catch 4, as shown in Figure 3, is fitted as shown in Figure 1 partly under and partly behind a tile 1 in a bottom row of tiling above a bath or similar such surface, shown in part as item 2. Each tile is fixed by adhesive 6 to a rear surface 3. Each tile has fitted with it preferably two locating catches 4. If less than two catches are used per tile then the tiles will be subject to misalignment. A sealing strip 5 is fitted over the catches 4 and held in place against the tiles 1 and surface 2.

The locating catches 4 consist of a front part 10 and two arms 9 that splay apart from the front part of the catch as they pass rearwards under a tile, terminating in posts 8 that reach up behind the tiling, one from the rear end of each catch arm. Common tile adhesive is used over the rear posts to securely fix the catch to the rear surface, as illustrated by adhesive 7. The catch posts 8 may have roughened or serrated edges to help engagement of the catch posts in adhesive to prevent later downward movement of the catch. It does not matter if adhesive is also applied underneath the tiles over the catch arms 9.

The tiles are pushed firmly downwards and rearwards during fixing so that the adhesive 6 and 7 thins such that all the tiles become fixed at the thickness of the catch posts away from the rear wall, and at the thickness of the catch arms above the bath or other such lower surface. By this means, provided the rear surface 3 and bath 2 are flat, all the bottom row of tiles are fixed substantially level, at a constant distance from the rear surface and the bath.

The front part 10 of each catch 4 terminates at its upper end in a hook 11 that turns preferably towards the tiles and acts to hold the seal 5 in position on the catch.

The free position of the catch arms 9 as shown in top view in Figure 8 is such that even thin bathroom tiles commonly encountered will not fit between the front part of the catch 10, with its hook end 11, and the rear posts 8. To fit the catches to a tile the catch arms 9 have to first be pulled elastically together as indicated by the arrows in Figure 8. Then, once in position under a tile, the arms 9 are released and thereafter the elastic restoring stress in the arms holds the rear posts 8 firmly against the rear face of the tiles, and the front part 10 firmly against the front face of the tiles, both for common thin bathroom bles and common fat bathroom tiles. Figure 5 shows a sideways cross section of a catch 4 holding firmly on to both a thin and a fat tile. Figure 7 is the same as Figure 5 but shows a top view, with the position of the tile shown by dashed rectangles.

A flexible continuous elongated waterproof sealing strip 5, as illustrated by the section of seal shown in figure 4, is fitted over the front part 10 of the locating catches 4 by pushing the rear face 13 of the seal between the front part of the catches and the front face of the tiling 1. Elastic stress in the catch arms, as described above, acts to pull the front part of the catches against the tiling, and in doing so acts to hold the rear face 13 of the seal firmly against the front face of the tiling.

It does not matter if the catch arms become immobile by becoming fixed in adhesive during tiling, because the front part of the catch 10 would then lean forwards as the seal is inserted over the hook 11, and in doing so would provide an additional elastic restoring force to again hold the seal rear face 13 firmly against the tiling To make it possible to insert the seal in this case the front part 10 of the catch is angled so that it leans slightly back towards the tiles, leaving a gap between the tiles and the base of the front part 10 approximately equal to the width of the inner part of the seal that is to be inserted Into the catch.

The seal 5 has an internal hollow between its rear face 13 and its front face 14, closed at the seal top and open at the seal bottom. This hollow has serrations on one or both sides. The preferred arrangement is to have serrations just on the inner or tile side of the hollow, as indicated by item 12 in Figure 4. The serrations 12 are shaped to form a ratchet mechanism with the hook 11 at the upper end of the front part 10 of the locating catches. By the means of this ratchet mechanism the seal may be pushed down onto the catches but will not move back up again, by applying an external force such as modest hand presure onto the top of the seal. By this mechanism the seal 5 may be pushed down until its lower edge 10 is pushed into firm contact with the bath 2 or like surface. Thereafter, when the external force is removed, the ratchet mechanism continues to apply a suitably high force down on the seal 5 such that good contact of seal 5 with the lower surface 2 may be retained. By this means the seal is securely held in place against surface 2 by the locating catches 4, because the locating catches are securely fixed by adhesive under the tiles 1, which in turn are securely fixed to the rear surface 3.

The seal 5 has a flat inner face 13 as in Figure 4 that is held by elastic stress in the locating catches 4 firmly against the tiles 1. The flat inner seal face 13 has two functions. By being held in contact with the tiles 1 it prevents the seal 5 from undergoing any rotation about its lengthwise axis. Secondly, the inner face 13 positions the seal at a predetermined fixed position relative to the front face of the tiles regardless of the actual level of elastic restoring stress in the catch arms 9, which will vary depending on the thickness of tile being used. The seal 5 is sufficiently firm that it does not bulge forwards away from the tiling inbetween locating catches.

The upper lengthwise edge 15 of the seal 5, as shown in its free position in Figure 4, Is more flexible than the main body of the sealing strip, either by being of a thinner cross section or by being made, possibly by coextrusion, in a softer material. The free position of the seal upper edge is such that it extends further towards the tiling than the seal face 13. Therefore as seal face 13 is pulled by the catches 4 firmly against the tiling, the easily flexible seal upper edge 15 distorts in the opposite direction but such that it always remains in contact with the tiling, such that slight undulations in the tiled surface 1, such as grouting hollows, are filled in by flexing of the upper seal edge, because elastic distortion of the seal upper edge produces a restoring force that holds the seal upper edge in firm contact with the tiles.

The seal inner face 13 is always firmly held against the tiles 1 by the location catches 4 so the amount of distortion of the upper seal edge 15 Is a standard amount, apart from the effect of slight undulations in the tiled surface. This helps some designs of corner joints to have more effective sealing with adjacent sections of sealing strip.

The seal 5 has a lower edge 16 that like the seal upper edge 15 is more flexible than the body of the sealing strip, either by being of a thinner cross section or by being made, possibly by coextrusion, in a softer matenal. Seal lower edge 16 is distorted away from its free position when the seal is pushed down against the lower surface 2. The seal is held down against the lower surface by the ratchet mechanism made between the hook 11 and the internal seal aerations 12. Elastic distortion upwards of the seal lower edge produces a restoring force that holds the seal lower edge down in a firm interference contact with the lower surface 2 thereby creating a good seal with surface 2.

As described before, both seal edges 15 and seal edge 16 are distorted away from their free positions as the seal Is fixed into position such that elastic restoring forces hold the seal edges firmly against the surfaces being sealed. These seal edge forces produce a moment that would tend to rotate the body of the seal one way or the other, but this rotation does not occur because the catch 4 always holds the flat inner face 13 of the seal firmly against the flat tiled surface.

When the bath 2 or shower tray or similar item is in use water is likely to become trapped by capillary forces at the lengthwise edges 15 and 16 where the sealing strip touches the tiles 1 and bath 2 or similar surface. This water will not pass on towards the intersection of the tiles and surface 2 because there is an air gap between where the upper seal edge 15 touches the tiles and the tiles/surface 2 intersection, and because there Is also an air gap between where the lower seal edge 15 touches surface 2 and the tles/surface 2 intersection.

If any water does get through to the tiles/surface 2 intersection then, provided the intersection Is level, there will be no driving action to make the water move along the intersection because there is no continuous capillary flow path lengthwise along the intersection, since the locating catches 4 are not continuous in the lengthwise direction.

When in use the sealing strip has a vertical front face 14 that is parallel to its vertical rear face 13. This gives the sealing strip an attractive appearance by being vertical and parallel to the tiling like a miniature skirting board. This attractive appearance is enhanced by the slender width of the seal compared to seals used in other sealing systems.

The vertical front seal face and the slender seal width permits corner pieces, as shown in Figures 17, 21 and 22, to have a simpler geometry than with sealing systems where the seal cross section profile is wider and angled away from vertical.

Slight downward movement of the bath 2 or similar surface can be matched by the inventive sealing system in that the seal lower edge 16 remains in sealing contact with the bath. This is achieved by downward unflexing of the lower edge 16 of the seal 5 as it moves back towards its undistorted shape.

The cause of this slight downward movement of surface 2 may be that a bath is filled with water or a shower tray is stood on. The bath or similar item may move back up again later when empty or not being stood on, which is in turn accommodated by increased flexing of the lower edge of the seal such that good sealing is again retained. This cycle may be repeated often.

More substantial sinkage of the bath 2 or similar surface may occur, possibly as a result of fixing feet sinking into the floor beneath. If, or when, this movement is beyond the amount that can be matched Just by downward unsexing of the lower edge 16 of the sealing strip, then the whole seal 5 may be pushed down by simply applying firm hand pressure to the top of the seal so as to push it down further onto catch 4. The serrations 12 on the inside of the seal slide over the hook 11 at the upper end of the front part 10 of the locating catches. The ratchet mechanism between the serrations 12 and the hook 11 is shaped such that downward movement of the seal is easy but movement back up again is prevented, unless substantial force or leverage is applied. There are numerous serrations 12 so the seal can be moved down in several small increments over time to follow sinkage of the lower surface.

By this means a good interference sealing contact is maintained between the seal lower edge and the lower surface 2 despite Linkage of surface 2.

When first fitted, before there has been sinkage of lower surface 2, there Is a vertical gap of several millimetres between the bottom of the rear face 13 of the seal and the top of the catch arms 9, and a similar vertical gap of several millimetres between the hook 11 at the top of the catch front part 10 and the top of the internal serrated recess of the seal. It is these two gaps that allow the seal to move vertically down on the ratchet mechanism formed with the locating catches. Once there has been so much sinkage of the bath or similar surface that in order to follow this movement the seal has been pushed fully down onto the locating catches such that the bottom of the rear face 13 of the seal has come into contact with the top of the catch arms 9, and/or the hook 11 is in contact with the top of the seal recess, there is no more facility for further downward movement of the seal.

Downward movements of the sealing strip have a vertical pitch that equals the vertical pitch of the internal seal serrations 12. Finer vertical adjustment is automatically achieved by flexing or unflexing of the seal lower surface 16 as it makes a tight interference fit with the lower surface 2.

If further sinkage occurs the bath or similar item may be jacked back upwards Into its original position.

The serrations 12 within the seal may be overpowered by the jacking process, or the seal can first be levered back up into its original position prior to jacking the bath back up. The steps described above can then be repeated if further gradual sinkage occurs.

If providing each tile with two locating catches, so that all tiles are well supported and level, is prohibitively expensive, then small plastic blanks or tabs could be provided to support the tiles where locating catches are not used.

To accommodate a wider range of tile thicknesses bigger or smaller locating catches of the same style as catch 4 could be provided.

The locating catches 4 should preferably be made by conventional injection moulding in a plastic material that is water resistant. This plastic material may be as commonly used for domestic plastic catches.

The sealing strip 5 should preferably be made by extrusion moulding in a plastic material that is water resistant This plastic material may be as commonly used for domestic bathroom sealing strips.

The inventive sealing system does not preclude the use, in addition, of a conventional sealing or fixing material along the tiles/surface 2 intersection. The inventive sealing strip would hide any unsightly appearance, such as the growth of mould, on any extra sealing or fixing material that may be used.

The locating catch 4 described above may be replaced by the locating catch shown in Figure 9, with all other details of the sealing system remaining as described above. The new locating catch is in most ways an inverted form of the previously described catch 4. For the new catch, there is a single approximately vertical rear part 18 that is placed behind the tiling, optional side protrusions 17 from the rear part that become engaged in adhesive behind the tile, two approximately horizontal catch arms 19 that splay apart moving forwards under a tile, and at the forward end of each catch arm a post 20 that reaches up approximately vertically in front of the tiling and which terminates in a hook 21. For this form of locating catch it is the front posts 20 over which the seal is positioned and ratcheted down with its serrations 12 engaging with the hook 21 to follow sinkage of the bath or similar surface.

The locating catch 4 described above may also be replaced by the singlelocating strip 22 shown In Figure 10 or the locating catches 27 shown in Figure 11. Both locating strip 22 and locating catches 27 have the same cross section. Although the locating strip 22 and locating catches 27, described further below, can accommodate some variation in the thickness of the tiles they are used with, this variation is more limited than with catch 4.

For locating strip 22 there is a rear part 23, a bottom part 24, a front part 25 and a hooked edge 26 at the upper end of the front part. Tiles are inserted into the locating strip into contact with parts 23 and 24 and hook 26. Rear part 23 may be roughened or serrated for better engagement with adhesive.

For locating catch 27 there is a rear part 28, a bottom part 29, a front part 30 and a hook 31 at the upper end of the front part. Tiles are inserted into the locating catch into contact with parts 28 and 29 and hook 31. Rear part 28 may be roughened or serrated for better engagement with adhesive.

For both locating strip 22 and locating catch 27 the distance between the front and rear parts is less than the thickness of the tiles it is intended to be used with. Hence when such tiles are placed into the strip or catches the front and rear parts of the strip or catches are forced apart, resulting in a elastic restoring force pulling the front part of the strip or catch towards the tiling.

Different amounts of movement apart of the front and rear parts of both locating strip 22 and locating catch 27 allow the strip or catches to fit onto a range of tile thicknesses.

An advantage of locating strip 22 is that it holds all the tiles placed into it level even if the rear surface 3 the tiles are being placed against is uneven. A disadvantage of locating strip 22 is that it may be more expensive to make and sell than Individual locating catches.

Figure 12 shows a sequence of views that apply equally to the use of locating strip 22 or locating catches 27. Figure 12 is the same as Figure 1, but for the sake of clarity omits rear surface 3 and the adhesive 6 and 7. In the first view of Figure 12 two thicknesses of tile are shown to illustrate how the front and rear parts of the locating strip or locating catches distort to fit onto different thicknesses of tile.

The next view of Figure 12 shows how the front part of the strip or catch is distorted forwards to allow the seal 5 to be inserted between the front part of the strip or catches and the front of the tiles until the seal lower edge is in firm contact with the bath 2 or similar surface, with the seal internal serrations engaged with the hook 26 of the strip or hook 31 of the catch. The last view of Figure 12 shows the situation when there has been Linkage of the lower surface 2 and the seal 5 has been pushed down on the ratchet mechanism formed between the seal serratons and the locating strip hook or locating catch hooks so that the seal retains good sealing contact with the lower surface 2.

A disadvantage of locating strip 22 and of locating catches 27 is that they can not accommodate as wide a range of tile thicknesses as locating catch 4. To overcome this different sizes of strip 22 or catch 27 could be offered for sale.

Other aspects of the use of seal 5 with locating strip 22 or locating catches 27 are the same as when used with catch 4 as shown in Figure 1 to 8 and as previously described.

The location catches and location strip described above can only be fitted during the tiling process. If the tiling is already in place the previously described location catches and location strip are not suitable.

To make it possible to fit seal 5 when tiling is already in place thin metal fixing pins 32 as shown in Figure 13 can be used instead. The fixing pins 32 are made of stiff rust resistant metal such as galvanised hardened steel or hardened stainless steel. As shown in Figure 16, each pin 32 has a sharpened end 34 made by cutting at a chamfer angle across the width of the pin, a flat part 35 that is suitably thin to pass between the tiles 1 and the bath 2 or similar surface, a flat upright part 36 approximately at right angles to the part 35, and a terminating hook 37 at the top end of part 36.

As indicated by the arrow in Figure 13, the fixing pins 32 are knocked, using a tool such as a small hammer, between the tiles 1 and the bath 2 and then on into the rear surface 3 until the hook 37 just contacts the front of the tiles 1. The sharpened end 34 of the pins 32 is suitably hard to be knocked into a rear surface 3 of plaster or plasterboard, but may not be suitable to be knocked into harder materials such as brick.

Most modern baths and shower trays are made of plastic reinforced materials that have sufficient give in the lower surface 2 to allow the fixing pins 32 to be inserted underneath previously fitted tiles 1 even if there is no initial gap between the tiles and the lower surface. If this is not the case then this sealing system is not suitable, for instance for cast iron baths with close fitting tiles.

The fixing pins 32 could be inserted directly into the rear surface 3 if there are no tiles.

As shown in Figure 14, the seal 5 is then inserted over the hook 37 of the fixing pins 32 and pushed down until the lower edge 16 of the seal is pushed hard against the bath 2. The slight downward angle of the pin hook 37 makes it easy to insert the slightly angled bottom of the inner face 13 of the seal 5 over the pin 32. The downward angling of the hook 37 makes a ratchet mechanism with the Internal serrations 12 of the seal 5, such that the seal can be pushed down but will not move back up again.

When the seal 5 is fitted over the fixing pins 32 the pins are distorted from their free position away from the tiles as shown in Figure 14 by item 33 which is the distorted position of pin 32 with the seal fitted.

The elastic restoring force produced in the fixing pins hold the seal inner face 13 firmly against the tiles.

If the lower surface 2 moves downwards due to linkage, the seal can be pushed down over the fixing pins by hand force to the position shown in Figure 15 so to follow the lower surface and maintain good sealing. The ratchet mechanism between the pin hook 37 and the seal serrations 12 allows the seal to be pushed down but not return back up.

Other aspects of the use of seal 5 with fixing pins 32 are the same as when used with catch 4 as shown in Figure 1 to 8 and as previously described.

The seal 5 may be cut at a 45 degree angle to make a mitre joint at right angled corners. Alternatively corner pieces 38 such as shown in Figure 17 can be used. The protrusions 39 of the corner piece insert into the seal 5. The corner pieces are thus located by the seal 5. As the seal 5 is pushed down on its locating features the corner piece 38 moves down with it. The upper rear edges 40 of the corner pieces are cut at a right angle to fit into the corner of the bath or shower. The lower front edge 41 of the corner pieces is cut in a circle. The corner piece edges 40 and 41 are made with a thin cross section to allow distortion as the corner piece is pushed by the seal 5 against the tiling and the bath or similar surface.

figure 18 illustrates how the seal 5 may have surface texture 42 for a more attractive appearance.

Figures 19 show a possible seal end piece 43 with a protuberance 44 to fit into the end of the sealing strip.

Figure 20 shows an alternative style of seal end piece 45 with a fixing protuberance 46 and an optional ornamental feature 47.

Figure 21 shows an alternative style of corner piece 48 for use with seal 5. As for corner piece 38, corner piece 48 has edge protuberances 49 to fit into sealing strip ends. The advantage of corner piece 48 is that it is more slender, and hence less noticeable than corner piece 38. Corner piece 48 is well suited to being pushed down if necessary to retain good sealing contact with the bath 2 or similar surface, sliding within the sealing strip ends on the protuberances 49.

Figure 22 shows corner piece 48 in place with seal 5. Corner piece 48 may be made of a slightly elastic rubbery material such that it is a tight squeeze fit between the two sealing strips 5 that meet at the corner, such that a good seal between the corner piece and the sealing strips is obtained.

Another embodiment of the inventive sealing system is shown in Figures 23 to 30. This embodiment is similar to the embodiments described above, but with the advantage that the seal 52 as shown in Figure 23 is less high than the seal 5 of the earlier embodiments, and with the difference that the seal 52 is fitted fully onto the locating catch 51 with no vertical adjustment relative to the locating catch 51, with instead accommodation of downward movement of the lower surface 2 being made by pushing the seal and the locating catches down together on a rear adjustor plate 50.

The locating catch 51 as shown in Figure 27 is similar to the previously described locating catch shown in Figure 9, in that catch 51 has a rear face 58, two side arms 60 that pass under the tile 1, and front posts 61 that terminate in hooks 62. The differences are that locating catch 51 has a taller rear face 58, and the side edges 59 of the rear face 58 are serrated.

Figure 26 shows the plastic injection moulded adjustor plate 50 with a hollowed centre portion 56 leaving just a minimum manufacturable thickness of plastic forming the rear face of the hollow. At the base of the hollow on both sides there are small side protrusions 57 designed to engage in the serrated edge 59 of the rear face 58 of the locating catch 51.

The locating catch 51 is inserted into the adjustor plate 50 as shown in Figures 23, 25 and 28. The serrated side edges 59 of the rear part 58 of catch 51 and the internal side edges of the adjustor plate hollow 56 are chamfered such that there is a snap location of the catch into the adjustor as indicated by chamfer feature 63 in Figure 28. The catch is inserted into the adjustor such that the top of the catch is level with the top of the adjustor plate hollow 56, and such that the lowest serrations of the catch side edges 59 are engaged with the adjustor plate protrusions 57. By this means the locating catch and adjustor plate are held together whilst being fitted to the ble.

The re-entrant feature 63 in the adjustor and catch is not so severe as to prevent the adjustor plate 50 and catch 51 being made by injection moulding.

figures 23 and 28 show the locating catch 51 and adjustor plate 50 inserted partly under and partly behind the tiles 1. The dashed line within the tile 1 of Figure 23 indicates the position of a thinner tile.

The arms 60 of the catch 51 distort as previously described for catch 4 to firmly pull the front posts 61 against the front face of the tile for a range of tile thicknesses. The dashed rectangle in Figure 28 indicates the position of a tile.

Figure 23 also shows a cross section of the seal 52 in its free undistorted shape labelled as feature 53 as it is about to be inserted over the front posts 61 of the catch 51. The seal is pushed fully onto the posts 61 until the hooks 62 engage in the hollowed recess 54 at the top inside part of the seal. Once the seal is attached by this means to the catch 51 it will not move up or down relative to the catch.

With the catch 51 securely fixed under the tiles 1 and the seal 52 securely pushed into its fixed position on the catch posts 61 the lower edge of the seal is pushed down hard against the bath 2 or similar surface. As previously described for seal 5, this lower edge is flexible and distorts to provide a good Interference seal with surface 2. Likewise, again as previously described for seal 5, the upper edge of the seal 52 is flexible and in its free position extends further towards the tiling than the inner face of the seal, so as the seal is held against the tiling by the catch 51 the seal upper edge is distorted so as to form an interference seal with the tiling, with sufficient flexibility to accommodate minor variations in the tiled surface such as grouting hollows.

Also as previously described for seal 5, distortion and subsequent relaxation of the lower edge of seal 52 provides accommodation for slight sinkage of the lower surface 2. For more substantial sinkage hand pressure may be applied to the top of seal 52 to push it down to the position shown in Figure 24.

The locating catch 51 moves down within the adjustor plate 50 but the ratchet mechanism between the adjustor protrusions 57 and the serrated catch side edges 59 prevent the catch from moving back up again. Hence the seal 52 together with the catches 51 may be made to move down to follow sinkage of the lower surface 2 and in doing so always provide good sealing by always pushing the lower edge of the seal 52 against the lower surface 2. A further possible variation is to have the serrations on the rear face of the rear part 58 of the catch and/or on the front face of the adjustor hollow 56.

The mechanism that engages the rear part 58 of the location catches within the hollow 56 of the adjustor plate may be of a slightly different version in which the serrations are on the side edges of the adjustor plate hollow and the hook that engages with the serrations is on the rear part of the locating catches, or may be of another slightly different version where both the adjustor hollow and the locating catch rear part have serrations that engage one with the other.

It is important that the catch rear face 58 does not become blocked by adhesive within the adjustor plate hollow 56. Suitable positions as to where adhesive should and should not be applied to the back of the adjustor plates is illustrated in Figure 29. The back of the adjustors may have an embossed notice 64 as part of the injection moulding process used to manufacture the adjustors to explain where to place adhesive and where not to place adhesive. It is important that adhesive does not displace underneath the bottom of the adjustor plate 50 and catch 51 during positioning of the tile, otherwise downward movement of the catch within the adjustor may be prevented. Figure 30 illustrates suitable positioning of adhesive 6 on the back of the tile and adhesive 7 on the back of the adjustor plates prior to placing the tile in position. As previously described for catch 4, as the tile is pushed firmly rearwards and downwards into place the catch 51 positions all tiles level relative to the tiles 1 and the lower surface 2.

The side edges and top edge and rear face of the central hollow 56 of the adjustor 50 should prevent seepage of adhesive into contact with the catch 51. If adhesive seepage does occur and blockage of the catch 51 within the adjustor 50 results then a sharp downward tap on the seal 51 may clear it. If adhesive blockage under the catch occurs it may be cleared by gaining access with a thin tool after some sinkage of the lower surface 2 has occured.

The adjustor plate 50 may have side extensions 55 as shown in Figure 26 that become engaged in adhesive 7 to ensure that the adjustor can not move down when the catch 51 is pushed down within it.

Other aspects of the use of locating catch 51, adjustor plate 50 and seal 52 are as previously described for catch 4 and seal 5 of the first embodiment of the inventive sealing system.

A final embodiment of the inventive seal is shown in Figures 31 to 35. A locating catch 65 is positioned under tiling 1 during positioning of the tiling as shown in Figure 31. As described earlier for catch 4 the adhesive 6 and 7 is used to fix the tiles 1 and catches 65 in place, and firm rearward and downward pressure on the tiles 1 during the fixing process ensures that all tiles are fixed level relative to the rear surface 3 and bath 2 or similar surface by being pushed firmly against the catches 65. The catches 65 locate a sealing strip 66.

As shown in Figures 31 and 34 the catches 65 have a rear face 72 that positions the catch behind the tiling, optional side protuberances 71 from the rear face 72 that engage in the adhesive 7 to prevent downward slippage of the rear face, a lower face 74 approximately perpendicular to face 72 that passes forwards under the tiling, an indentation groove 73 or a like feature along the intersection of faces 72 and 74 that would enable face 74 to rotate downwards relative to face 72 if the lower surface were not in the way, and a curved hook 75 formed at the terminating end of face 74 that curves upwards in front of the tiling and then rearwards back towards the tiling.

Seal 66 is shown in Figure 31 in cross section in its free undistorted shape as feature 67 prior to fitting into the catch 65. A section of seal 66 is also shown in three dimensional view in Figure 35. Seal 66 has a central tongue 77 that becomes engaged in the hook part 75 of the catch 65 when the seal is pushed into the catches 65 as shown in Figure 31.

The width of the tongue 77 of the seal 66 plus the thickness of the range of tiles the catch is intended to be used with is greater than the gap between the curved hook 75 and the rear face 72 of the catch 65 in its free undistorted shape. The catch 65 is made of an elastic material such that when a tile and the seal are inserted into the catch the catch is distorted away from its free shape such that elastic restoring stress in the catch holds the inner side 78 of the seal tongue 77 firmly against the tiles.

Engagement of seal tongue 77 and catch hook 75 firmly holds the seal 48 down against the lower surface 2.

The upper and lower lengthwise edges 79 and 80 of the seal are more flexible than the body of the seal and hence, as described earlier for seal 5, these edges distort such that the seal takes up the shape 66 in Figure 31, such that the elastic restoring force produced in the seal edges holds the seal edges 79 and 80 in a good interference sealing contact with the tiles 1 and lower surface 2.

The catch 65 can fit, by means of flexing of the curved hook 75, to tiles with a range of thickness as illustrated by the thicker tile in Figure 32 and thinner tile in Figure 31.

If sinkage of the bath 2 or similar surface occurs, more than can be accommodated by simple unsexing of the seal lower edge 80 such that it remains in sealing contact with the lower surafce 2, then the seal may be pushed downwards, for instance by hand pressure on the top of the seal. The lower face 74 of the catch rotates downwards about the hinge formed by the groove 73 as the seal is pushed down, as shown in Figure 33. The hook end 75 of the catch unwinds slightly such that the catch lower surface 74 become longer, in a way that allows the above rotation whilst still maintaining engagement between the catch hook 75 and the seal tongue 77.

For every short distance the seal 66 and catch 65 are pushed down they will not move back up again because serrations on the tile side 78 of the seal tongue 77 become engaged underneath the lower edge of the tile, as shown in Figure 33. The serrations can not subsequently disengage from the bottom edge of the tile because the seal tongue 77 is pushed hard against the bottom edge of the tile by the catch hook 75.

Hence as sinkage of the lower surface 2 occurs this can be accommodated by pushing the seal down with its catches such that the seal lower edge 80 is always firmly pushed against the bath 2 or similar surface in a good interference sealing contact. Downward movements of the sealing strip have a vertical pitch that equals the vertical pitch of the serrations 78 on the side of the seal tongue 77. Finer vertical adjustment is automatically achieved by flexing or unsexing of the seal lower surface 80 as it makes a tight interference fit with the lower surface 2. As with the previously described catch 4, the seal upper lengthwise edge 79 is more flexible than the body of the seal and distorts to make good contact with the tiles 1, flexing and unflexing as necessary to follow slight undulations in the tiled surface.

If insertion of the seal tongue 77 of the seal 66 into the catches 65 Is difficult it may be made more easy by sharpening the angle of the lower end of the seal tongue so that during fitting it can wedge itself better between the catch hooks 75 and the tiles 1.

Other aspects of the use of locating catch 65 and seal 66 are as previously described for catch 4 and seal 5 of the first embodiment of the inventive sealing system.

Claims (1)

1. A sealing system in which a continuous sealing strip, or sections of a sealing strip, are fixed in place between a tiled surround of a bath and the bath rim by means of a multitude of individual locating catches previously fixed into the Joint between the tiles and the bath, preferably such that there are at least two catches per tile with each catch spaced apart so as to be near to a vertical edge of the tiles 2 A sealing system as in Claim 1 where the individual locating catches are mechanically trapped partly underneath and partly behind the bottom row of tiles that abut the bath rim as these tiles are being fitted, such that once the adhesive used to fix the tiles has set the locating catches are securely fixed in position.

3. A sealing system as in Claim 2 where the individual locating catches each have a rear part consisting of two posts that, when in position, reach up approximately vertically behind the tiles, where these posts may be roughened or serrated in some way for better engagement with adhesive, where these posts each have at their lower end a slightly flexible catch arm that extends forwards under the tile and above the bath rim, converging onto a single front part of the catch, where there is an elastic restoring force produced in the catch arms as a result of the thickness of the tiles distorting the catch arms together away from their free position such that they pull the front part of the catch against the front face of the tile, and where the front part of the catch extends up in front of the tiling substantially parallel with the tiles, and where the front part terminates at its upper end in a hook part preferably pointing back towards the tiling such that there is a small gap maintained between the front part of the catch and the front face of the tiling, into which a sealing strip can be inserted until it becomes engaged in the hook part at the top of the front face of the catch.

4. A sealing system as in Claim 3 where the front and rear parts of the locating catches are swapped over such that the locating catches each have a single flat rear part that, when in position, reaches up approximately vertically behind the tiles, where this rear part may be roughened or serrated in some way for better engagement with adhesive, where this rear part has two slightly flexible catch arms splayed apart one from the other that extend forwards from the rear part passing under a tile and above the bath rim, and where the catch arms support front posts that reach up in front of the tiling substantially parallel with the tiles, and where there is an elastic restoring force produced in the catch arms as a result of the thickness of the tiles distorting the catch arms together away from their free position such that they pull the front posts of the catch against the front face of the tile, and where the catch posts have a protrusion at their upper terminating end that forms a hook preferably pointing back towards the tiling such that there is a small gap maintained between the front posts and the front face of the tiling, into which a sealing strip can be inserted until it becomes engaged in the hook part at the top of the front posts.

5. A sealing system as In Claim 2 where the Individual locating catches each have a substantially flat rear part that, when in position, reaches up approximately vertically behind the tiles, where this rear part may be roughened or serrated in some way for better engagement with adhesive, where this rear part has at its lower end a lower part that is approximately perpendicular to the rear part, where this lower part extends forwards under the tile and above the bath rim, terminating in a front part of the catch which reaches approximately vertically upwards In front of the tiling, where there is an elastic restoring force produced in the catch as a result of the thickness of the tiles distorting the catch front and rear parts away from each other and away from their free position such that the elastic restoring force produced pulls the front part of the catch against the front face of the tiling, and where the front part terminates at its upper end in a hook preferably pointing back towards the tiling such that there is a small gap maintained between the front part of the catch and the front face of the tiling, into which a sealing strip can be inserted until it becomes engaged in the hook at the top of the front face of the catch.

6 A sealing system as in Claim 5 where the Individual locating catches are replaced with a locating strip with the same cross sectional profile as described for the locating catches in Claim 5 and with the same functionality of holding the front part of the locating strip firmly against the front face of the tiling and with the same method of holding a sealing strip, but with the difference to Claim 5 of the locating strip being elongated such that it is of a similar length to the sealing strip it is being used to fix.

7. A sealing system as in Claim 3 and 4 where the arms that fit under the tile are sufficiently flexible to flex together such that the space between the front and rear parts of the catch increases such that the catch can fit underneath tiles with a range of thicknesses commonly encountered with domestic bathroom tiles such that the tile is sandwiched between the front and rear parts of the catch, without the stress produced in the catch arms being excessive so as to create a significant risk of the catch . 13 A sealing system as in Claim 12 where, if necessary, the seal can be pushed back up again on the front part or parts of the catches by supplying an upward force that overwhelms the resistance of the ratchet mechanism that holds the seal to the locating catches or locating strip, assisted or not by levering the outer edge of the seal away from the inner edge so as to free it from the locating catches or locating strip.

14 A sealing system as in Claim 1 where the locating catches are thin hard preferably metal pieces that can be partially knocked from the front of the tiles inbetween a previously fixed row of tiles abutting the bath rim and the bath rim itself, where the said thin catches, which may have a sharpened end, are long enough to penetrate and become fixed in the backing surface the tiles are fixed to, where the front part of the said catches, which is not inserted underneath the tiles, has an approximately right angled bend such that the front part of the catch points upwards away from the bath rim, approximately parallel to the tiling, and where this front part of the catch terminates in another bend that turns as a short hook towards the tile face and may be slightly angled down towards the bath, where the said catches are knocked under the tiles and into the tile backing surface until the front hook of the catch is touching or is close to the tile front face, and where the same seal as described in more detail in Claims 9, 10, 12 and 13 is inserted over the front part of the locating catches such that the serrated recess in the seal become engaged in the hook of the catch, such that the seal can move down but can not move back up again, where the seal is pushed sufficiently down onto the locating catches that the lower edge of the sealing strip makes a close interference seal with the bath rim, and where the locating catches hold the inner face of the sealing strip firmly against the front face of the tiling such that the upper edge of the seal makes a close interference seal with the tiling, and where once the lower edge of the sealing strip is in contact with the bath rim there is still a vertical gap between the bottom of the inner part of the seal and the base of the catch and also a vertical gap between the top of the catches and the top of the internal serrated seal recess, such that following downward sinkage of the bath the sealing strip may be pushed further down onto the catches such that the internal serrations of the sealing strip ratchet over the hook of the catches such that the seal can not move back up again, such that the lower edge of the seal maintains a good interference seal with the bath rim.

15. A sealing system as in Claim 1 in which the individual locating catches consist of a substantially flat rear part that, once in position, reaches up substantially vertically behind the tiling, where this rear part has serrations on one or both of its two substantially vertical side edges, where there are two catch arms that extend forward from the base of the catch rear part under the tiling and terminate in front posts that reach up in front of the tile, and where there is an elastic restoring force produced in the catch arms as a result of the thickness of the tiles distorting the catch arms together away from their free position such that they pull the front posts of the catch against the front face of the tiling, where the front posts terminate in hooks that are used to hold and secure a sealing strip, where the catch arms and catch posts and the way the seal is held and secured and the way the seal provides a good initial seal with the bath rim are as described in more detail in Claim 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 except that the sealing strip is preferably less tall than in Claims 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 and only need have one internal serration to engage with the catch front post hooks, and where the rear part of the location catch engages in a hollowed recess within a rear adjustor plate, where the fit of the catch rear part into the hollow of the adjustor plate is preferably by chamfered snap location so that the catch and adjustor plate do not easily separate during fitting' and where the rear adjustor plate is secured by adhesive behind the tiling as the tiles are being fixed, and where the hollowed recess within the adjustor plate is open at the bottom but closed at the side edges and also preferably at the top, and where there is a hook or hooks at or near the bottom of one or both side edges of the hollowed recess such that this hook or hooks engage with the serrations on the side edge or edges of the rear part of the locating catch such that the locating catch can slide down within the adjustor plate hollow but can not move back up again, such that if the bath moves down by sinkage the locating catches can be pushed down by hand pressure on the top of the sealing strip that is fitted over the front part of the catches so that the sealing strip is pushed firmly down to maintain good sealing contact with the new position of the bath rim and will not move back up again because the locating catches can not move back up within the rear adjustor plate.

16. A sealing system as in Claim 15 In which the mechanism that engages the rear part of the location catches within the hollow of the adjustor plate is different in that the serrations are on the side edges of the hollow and the hook that engages with the serrations Is on the side edge or edges of the rear part of the locating catches, or where both the side edges of the adjustor hollow and the side edges of the locating catch rear part have serrations that engage one with the other, or where there may be serrations on the rear side of the rear part of the catch and the front face of the adjustor plate hollow.

17 A sealing system as in Claim 1 in which the individual locating catches consist of a substantially flat rear part that, once in position, reaches up substantially vertically behind the tiling, where this rear part may be roughened or serrated in some way for better engagement with adhesive, where this rear part has at its lower extremity a hinge, made by local thinning such as a grooved slot, where this hinge connects the rear part to a substantially perpendicular tower part that extends forwards under the tiling temminating in a slightly flexible curved hook that reaches up in front of the tiling and curves back towards the tiling such that there is a tight fit between the catch and the tile, and where this tight fit is obtained for a common range of tile thicknesses by elastic distortion forwards of the curved hook of the catch, and where a sealing strip is inserted into the locating catches by squeezing a tongue feature of the sealing strip into the space between the front of the tiles and the curved hook of the locating catches, where this space is opened up by elastic distortion forwards of the curved hook away from the tiling, where the elastic restoring force thereby created subsequently acts to pull the sealing strip into good sealing contact with the tiles, and where the engagement of the sealing strip tongue within the curved hook of the catches holds the seal lower edge firmly down into a good sealing contact with the bath nm, and where there are serrations on the tile side of the sealing strip tongue such that, following downward movement of the bath, hand pressure can be used to push the sealing strip downwards such that the lower part of the locating catch is made to rotate downwards about the hinge formed with the rear part of the catch such that the seal tongue is pulled down and inwards under the bottom edge of the tiling by the curved hook of the catch, such that the serrations on the tile side of the seal tongue become engaged under the lower edge of the tiling so as to prevent the seal and catch from moving back up again, such that the lower edge of the sealing strip maintains a good sealing contact with the bath rim, and where the way the sealing strip provides a good seal with the bath rim and tiles is by flexing of the more flexible side edges of the seal in a similar way to the previously described seal 5, and where the catches help position the tiles level in a similar way to the previously descirbed catch 4.

18. A sealing system as described in Claims 1 to 17 in which corner pieces are made of a more flexible material then the main sealing strip such that when the comer pieces are inserted between two substantially perpendicular sections of sealing strip at a substantially right angled corner there can be a tight squeeze fit provided, such that a good sealing contact between the comer piece and the sectors of sealing strip it is in contact with is obtained.

19. A sealing system as In Claim 2 where sideways protuberances on the rear part of the locating catches enhance the trapping of the catches In adhesive.

20. A sealing system as in Claim 6 where the locating stop holds the bottom row of tiles all level during fixing of the tiles even if the back surface the tiles are being fixed to is uneven.

21 A sealing system as in Claims 1 to 20 where the lower surface the tiles are being sealed with is not a bath but a shower tray or a kitchen worktop or a floor or any other similar item.

22. A sealing system substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 35 of the accompanying drawings.