GB2444110A

GB2444110A - Tiling system comprising support rails and tiles for roof or wall

Info

Publication number: GB2444110A
Application number: GB0623295A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronnie Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-11-23
Filing date: 2006-11-23
Publication date: 2008-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 2026-11-23
Also published as: GB2444110B; GB0623295D0

Abstract

A tiling system 10 comprises a plurality of elongate guide-rails 12 each having tile-interlocking means and a plurality of tiles 11 each having downwardly extending flanges comprising guide-rail-interlocking means, wherein each tile is engageable with a pair of mutually spaced guide-rails and abuts with adjacently located tiles. The tiles may fit both an external roof and an internal wall. The tiles are preferably push-fit into the rails which preferably have a U-shaped section. The interlocking means may comprise opposed inwardly-projecting longitudinally extending fins (20, fig. 7) on the rails which preferably cooperate with inwardly facing grooves (31, fig.7) on the tiles. Each tile may be formed with a cavity filled with insulation. The tiles preferably overlap each other in a shingled fashion, the overlapping portion preferably being rounded. The rails preferably fasten to a roof via battens 13.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN TILING SYSTEMS

The present invention relates to improvements in tiling systems, in particular tiling systems for roofs.

Bathroom and kitchen walls and other surfaces are often covered with ceramic tiles to provide a decorative and water-proof finish. Clay or concrete tiles are also used to clad exterior walls of buildings, and as roof coverings. The various components required for each of these forms of tiling, and the methods employed for fixing the tiles are quite different. For example, interior tiling systems generally utilise flat ceramic tiles which arc permanently adhered to a surface in carefully aligned rows and columns. During installation, tiles are fixed to a surface with a suitable adhesive, usually cement based. Generally, small substantially uniform gaps are left between adjacent tiles so that the tiles do not touch. The gaps are subsequently filled with a grouting material to provide a continuous water-prooflresistant and aesthetically pleasing finish over the tiled region.

In contrast, exterior tiling systems for cladding a wall or covering a roof, utilise an over-lapping tile arrangement in which rows of tiles are tacked or nailed to a series of generally parallel horizontal wooden battens and overlap a similarly mounted row below. Typically, these kind of tiles are formed from clay, concrete or slate and include holes which enable the tiles to be fixed to the battens. The holes in the tiles are formed during the moulding process or are drilled after moulding. Horizontally adjacent tiles are abutted to form a continuous row which spans a wall or roof structure. The tiled covering is then built up from a series of such rows in which each consecutive vertically higher row partially overlays the previous row such that water can flow unimpededly down the tiled surface. Adjacent rows are generally off-set relative to one another, by half a tile width to provide a stronger, and more stable and more water-resistant structure as water flowing down the roof is prevented from flowing between adjacent tiles in a particular row at the upper portion of those tiles by the overlaying tile of the row above, and by the underlying tile of the row below.

Conventional tiling systems may comprise a variety of different tile designs such as flat slates or flat or shaped clay or concrete tiles, optionally including interlocking features. however, a common feature of their design is that their construction allows them to be installed in the above-described maimer. Further, roof tiling systems additionally include ridge tiles for bridging the pinnacle of two adjacent roof surfaces, typically cemented in place; specially-shaped tiles for bridging a valley or ridge between adjoining roof structures, for instance around a dorma-window; and corner tiles are provided for wrapping cladding tiles around the corner of a building.

The described tiling systems both suffer from disadvantages. For instance, in order to support a tiled surface, a roof structure must be of sufficient strength to bear the weight of the heavy tiles, and may have to be reinforced in the event that the tiled surface needs replacing. For similar reasons tiled cladding must be securely anchored to supports, themselves securely mounted to the wall exterior. Additionally, these tiling systems, particularly when formed as a roof surface, act as poor insulators and consequently must be used in conjunction with loft lagging in order to prevent substantial heat loss from a building.

The act of tiling an interior wall is also relatively slow due to the requirement of allowing the adhesive to properly set before grouting can be undertaken. In addition, the process of grouting tends to be particularly messy and quite time consuming. Where existing interior tiling is to be replaced the process is doubly time consuming, disruptive and dirty since the walls to be tiled must first be made good if an existing layer of tiles are removed prior to the installation of new tiles.

The present invention provides an alternative means of tiling a surface which is equally suitable to interior and exterior surfaces. In particular, the tiling system of the present invention seeks to provide a quick, simple and clean means for tiling a surface.

The present invention provides a tiling system for a surface, the system comprising: i) a plurality of elongate guide-rails each having tile-interlocking means; and ii) a plurality of tiles each having downwardly extending flanges comprising guide-rail-interlocking means; wherein each tile is engageable with a pair of mutually spaced guiderails and abuts with adjacently located tiles.

Preferably, each tile comprises side edges, a leading edge and a trailing edge.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of tiling a surface, the method comprising the steps of: i) fitting a series of elongate guide-rails having tile-interlocking means, substantially parallel, to the surface; and ii) fitting a plurality of tiles into the guide-rails, the tiles having downwardly extending flanges comprising guide-rail-interlocking means; side edges, a leading edge and a trailing edge; wherein the trailing edge of a tile abuts against the leading edge of an adjacent tile or tiles, and wherein each tile is engageable with a pair of adjacent guide-rails and the side edges abut with side edges of adjacent tiles.

Preferably, the tiles are push-fittable into the guide-rails. Suitably, the guide-rails have a generally U-shaped section.

Suitably, the tile-interlocking means comprise opposed inwardly-projecting longitudinally extending fins. Preferably, the guide-rail-interlocking means comprise inwardly facing grooves complementary to and engageable with the guide-rail fms.

Optionally, each tile is formed with an insulation containing cavity.

Preferably, the surface is a roof surface. Alternatively, the surface is a wall.

Suitably, the trailing edge of a tile abuts against and additionally overlays the leading edge of an adjacent tile or tiles.

Suitably, the trailing edge further comprises a curved lip which overlays the leading edge of an adjacent tile or tiles.

The tiling system of the present invention is suitable for attachment to structures of any age and is particularly suited for use in new-build' constructions. An advantage of the tiling system of the present invention is that that the components can be constructed from light- weight materials, in comparison with conventional and older tiling systems, and accordingly do not require reinforcement of a surface prior to its installation. This is particularly relevant to roof tiling arrangements incorporating concrete or slate tiles. Additionally, when the described tiling system is formed with an insulation containing cavity this can lead to a reduction in the loss of heat from a building, which is of particular relevance to an increasingly energy-efficient aware society.

The above and other aspects of-the present invention will now be described in further detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1A is a perspective view of roof surface partially fitted with an embodiment of a tiling system according to a first aspect of the present invention; Figure 1 B is a perspective view of roof surface alternatively fitted with an embodiment of a tiling system according to a first aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a tile guide-rail of the embodiment of Figure 1 A; Figure 3 is an end view of the tile rail of Figure 2; Figure 4A is an above perspective view of a tile of the embodiment of Figure 1 A; Figure 4B is an underneath perspective view of the tile of Figure 4A; Figure 5 is a side view of the tile of Figure 4A; Figure 6 is an end view of the tile of Figure 4A; Figure 7 is a part end view of tiles as shown in Figure 44, adjacently positioned and interlocked with a tile rail; Figure 8 is a part end view of an interlocked tile and end spacer; Figure 9 is a perspective view of the end spacer of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a first embodiment of a ridge tile according to the present invention; and Figure 11 is a second embodiment of a ridge tile according to the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1 A, there is shown a tiling system 10 for a surface, such as a roof surface, in which a series of tiles 11 are engaged with guide-rails 12. The guide-rails 12 are vertically aligned with respect to the roof surface, and are securely fixed to wooden battens 13 which are integral with the roof structure. Within each column, vertically adjacent tiles 11 overlap a preceding tile such as to allow water to flow unimpededly down the roof surface.

Figure 1 B illustrates a tiling system 10 as described above, in which additional guide rails 12' are provided and fitted to the roof surface in positions intermediate guide-rails 12, as shown in Figure 1A. The use of additional guide-rails 12' allows the surface to be tiled in a conventional overlapping and off-set roof tiling arrangement.

As shown in Figures 2-3 the system comprises a plurality of substantially U-shaped guide-rails 12 each having a pair of substantially parallel vertical side-waIls 14 linked by a flattened base portion 15. The guide-rails further include tile-interlocking means in the form of a pair of inwardly-projecting opposed fins 20, 20', fixed to or integral with each side-wall 14, and which span the length of the guide-rail 12. In alternative embodiments each side-wall has one, three or more fins. The base portion 15 of a guide-rail 12 further comprises a waterproof seal 21, typically formed from a rubberised plastics layer.

Figures 4 to 6 illustrate a tile 11 comprising a body 22 having a pair of flanges 23 which downwardly extend from right and left sides thereof. As seen in Figure 5, the body 22 has a generally tapered profile in which the tile 11 progressively thickens from a front, leading edge 24, to a rear, trailing edge 25 wherein the profile of the body 22 curves to form a lip 30 which meets with the trailing edge 25. In addition, the flanges 23 generally run from the leading edge 24 of the tile 11 and stop short of the trailing edge 25, just before the curved lip 30 begins. This feature, together with the tapered profile, allow vertically adjacent tiles to overlap tiles positioned immediately below within a column of tiles in the tiling system 10.

As shown in Figure 6, the inward facing edges of the flanges comprise guide-rail-interlocking means in the form of a series of grooves 31 which, in an assembled configuration, are complementary to and engageable with the Vms 20 of the guide-rails 12. These grooves 31 are formed between a series of arrowhead-like projections such that in an assembled configuration, the arrow-head projections allow the tile to be pushed passed the fins of the guide rails but do not allow the tile to be removed by the reverse action. In this manner, and as illustrated in the sectional view of Figure 7, when a second tile 11' from an adjacent column is fitted into a particular guide-rail 12, the flat outer edges 32,32' of each respective tile abuts against the other and the engagement of the guide-rail fins 20 with the tile grooves 31 securely interlock each side of the respective tiles 11,11'. Accordingly, when this assembly is repeated over the whole roof surface, a very secure weatherproof structure is obtained.

In general, it will not be possible to correctly span a roof surface with an exact number of full' tiles, due to dimensional constraints. Therefore, in Figures 1, 8 (and 9 in exploded view) there is shown an edging tile 33, having a downwardly extending plate 35 and a narrow-body 34 suitably dimensioned to complete a side edge of a tiled structure. The edging tiles 33 may be provided in a range of sizes diminishing in width from half the width of a standard tile 11. Alternatively, a standard tile 11 may be cut to the required size and an edging plate 40 attached to finish the tile edge.

Optionally, the body of each tile may be formed with an insulation containing cavity (not shown). This cavity is fillable with any suitable insulating material to help to prevent heat- loss from a structure tiled according to the described system, and thus increase energy-efficiency.

The system 10 also comprises, where necessary, angled or curved ridge tiles 41 for spanning two tiled surfaces, in particular a roof apex. As illustrated in Figures 1, 10 and lithe ridge tiles 41 also comprise downwardly extending flanges 23 having grooves 31 for locking a tile in place. These tiles lock into guide-rails which span the width of the roof, and can be formed by extrusion or moulding. In an assembled structure, ridge caps 42 are provided to seal each end of a row of ridge tiles 41. The ridge tiles 41 may also be formed with body having an insulation containing cavity.

Additionally, column locking clips (not shown) are secured to the guide-rails at the gutter end of the rail to prevent any potential slippage of a column of tiles.

In assembling a tiled system as described above, tiles 11 are push-fitted and securely lock into the guide-rails 12, which are spaced according to the tile width, with the curved lip 30 of the trailing edge 25 of one tile abutting against and overlapping the leading edge 24 of an adjacent tile 11 within a particular column. In particular, in fitting a tile II, one side of the tile is pushed into a first guide-rail 12 and the other side into a second guide rail 12', adjacent and parallel to the first, to securely fix a tile in place. Second and third tiles (including edging tiles 33) arc fitted into adjacent guide-rails on either side of the first, and serve to lock the first tile in position. The process is repeated across the width of the roof to lock the whole tiling system securely in place. Once the first two tiles of a row have been fitted the structure becomes self-securing as subsequently added tiles act to secure the previous tile through the abutment of the corresponding outer tiles edges 32,32' with each other and the engagement of the grooves 31 of the inner edge of each tile flange 23 with the fins 20 of the guide-rails 20.

The described tiling system provides a quick, relatively clean and simple means of tiling a surface, suitable for installation by both the DIY enthusiast and professional builders. It will be recognised by the skilled person that the described tiling system could be readily adapted to clad the exterior of a building and also as a quick, simple and efficient means of tiling an interior wall.

Claims

CLAIMS: I. A tiling system comprising: i) a plurality of elongate

guide-rails each having tile-interlocking means; and ii) a plurality of tiles each having downwardly extending flanges comprising guide-rail-interlocking means; wherein each tile is engageable with a pair of mutually spaced guide-rails and abuts with adjacently located tiles.
2. A tiling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each tile comprises side edges, a leading edge and a trailing edge.
3. A tiling system as claimed in claim I or claim 2, wherein the tiles are push-fittable into the guide-rails.
4. A tiling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guide-rails have a generally U-shaped section. ****

*:
5. A tiling system as claimed in any one of claims I to 4, wherein the tile- *1* interlocking means comprise opposed inwardly-projecting longitudinally extending fms. *. . * * .*

S
6. A tiling system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the guide-rail-interlocking means comprise inwardly facing grooves complementary to and engageable with the fins of the tile-interlocking means.
7. A tiling system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each tile is formed with an insulation-containing cavity.
8. A tiling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 for a roof surface.
9. A tiling system as claimed in any one of claims ito 7 for a wall.
10. A tiling system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein, in use, the trailing edge of a tile abuts against and overlays the leading edge of an adjacent tile or tiles.
11. A tiling system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the trailing edge of a tile further comprises a curved lip which overlays the leading edge of an adjacent tile or tiles.
12. A method of tiling a surface, the method comprising the steps of: i) fitting a series of elongate guide-rails having tile-interlocking means, substantially parallel, to the surface; and ii) fitting a plurality of tiles into the guide-rails, the tiles having downwardly extending flanges comprising guide-rail-interlocking means; side edges, a leading edge and a trailing edge; wherein the trailing edge of a tile abuts against the leading edge of an adjacent tile :,*, or tiles, and wherein each tile is engageable with a pair of adjacent guide-rails and is... the side edges abut with side edges of adjacent tiles.

*s.... * .
13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein each tile comprises side edges, a *5i*S.

leading edge and a trailing edge.

*:*.
14. A method as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the tiles are push-fittable into the guide-rails.
15. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the guide-rails have a generally U-shaped section.
16. A method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the tile-interlocking means comprise opposed inwardly-projecting longitudinally extending fins.
17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the guide-rail-interlocking means comprise inwardly facing grooves complementary to and engageable with the fins of the tile-interlocking means.
18. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein each tile is formed with an insulation containing cavity.
19. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein the surface is a roof surface.
20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein the surface is a wail.
21. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 20 wherein, in use, the trailing edge of a tile abuts against and additionally overlays the leading edge of an adjacent tile or tiles.
22. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 21, wherein the trailing edge of a :... tile further comprises a curved lip which overlays the leading edge of an adjacent *S*.

tile or tiles. 2Q

**. S..

S
23. A tiling system substantially as described herein, with reference to the * *....

* accompanying drawings. S. S * ** 5.5

*: .
24. A wail-tiling system substantially as herein described, with reference to accompanying Figures 2 to 9.
25. A roof-tiling system substantially as herein described, with reference to accompanying drawings.
26. A method of tiling a surface substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.