GB2516908A - Tile support system for domestic and commercial application - Google Patents

Abstract

The tile support system supports tiles in place in an upper window area, preferably while a holding adhesive dries to prevent the tiles moving or falling. The tile support system my hold the tiles using a horizontal surface which can be extended or contracted using male 2A and female 1A sections. The support surface may incorporate height adjusting inserts 14. The surface may be held in place using extendible legs 5A/10A, which may be secured at different heights. The system allows tiles to be held above a window during the drying of an adhesive which attaches the tile to a wall located above a window.

Description

TILE SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL APPLICATION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the support of decorative tiles whilst their adhesive or holding method is drying, particularly in relation to the upper reveal area of an interior window.

Background

The use of tiles for the decoration and protection of interior wall areas in domestic or commercial locations is in common use and is a popular method for enhancing or improving existing or new surface& Wall surfaces that are finished in a plaster variant or other known covering can be exposed to elements that may be detrimental to their longevity. These include bathrooms and kitchens that have excessive amounts of steam or water vapour delivered to the wall surfaces on a more consistent basis.

This excessive amount of moisture creates gradual deterioration of the wall surface and any coating finish. A tile of varying material, including ceramic is used to cover the surface and protect it. It also provides a decorative finish and a surface that is more easily maintained and cleaned.

Tiles of this nature have become larger over resent years and the trend toward heavier types has increased. These sometimes include Italian marble tiles, for example, which are several times denser than ceramic or similar lighter weight options.

When applying such heavier tiles above a window the person has to align and press eath tile onto the horizontal or vertical area of the wall that passes over the reveal of the window, above the windowsill. This means that the tiles have a naturally downward weight trajectory whilst the adhesive on their back surface is drying. Moreover, this tendency for downward movement results in falling tiles or movement which results in a more unsatisfactory and sometimes costly outcome.

This currently is a problem that is dealt with using wooden lengths or any material that may be lying around or available at the work location. These are quite primitive options and result in time consumption and a risk of tile movement, therefore affecting the process and quality of the finished work.

The present invention provides a solution to support tiles in window reveals and related areas while their holding adhesives dry, preventing movement and being able to be used on all cited window widths and depths.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided at least two sections of structurally calculated horizontal lengths made of a none-corrosive material. Their form relates to the area to which they are to be applied and therefore a rectangular semblance to both sections is proposed. This being due to the reveal area of a window to which this will be applied normally being formed thus.

The user holds at least two sections and pulls them apart or extends them outwardly until they match the width of the upper window area to which they are being applied, or match sufficiently enough.

These two joined horizontaL flat planes are then pressed or applied to the affixed tiles and held in place using at least one supporting leg. The tiles are therefore held in place in their position until the adhesive dries and the device can be removed for reuse.

Tiles fitted horizontally to the window reveal or vertically to the wall area above the upper window, can be held by locating the tile support planes suitably. The sections can then be contracted or slid within each other and packed away with the leg(s) for use again.

The sections have a male and female application and allow at least one length to insert within the female housing, to allow extension and contraction of the device. The inserted section being the male portion and of a reflective shape, rectangular or similar.

The sections are either of a hollow nature or solid form and have a horizontal plane which forms the surface onto which tiles are supported and end and side areas that form a slightly cased appearance.

The calculations for their lengths are derived from averages produced by comparing common known window widths and producing male and female sections, that when extended, allow for these variations in window width when the extending is stalled at intermediate stages. As the user pulls or extends the male section from within the female they can visually match this to the window reveal to which they are being applied. However, suggested lengths of the male section are 600mm, with a width of 145--148mm and a depth of 66-68mm. This would. allow sufficient sizing for average window usage and for it to slide within the female section which is suggested at a length of 800mm, with a width of 150mm and a depth of 70mm. This would derive a fully extended length of no more than 1400mm.

The weight of the device will be determined by its material structure which may vary from plastics, light alloys, aluminium, slight metals and compound man made materials.

This variation is only limited by the compliance and strength of the material chosen and its ability to support the tiles and remain ridged when extended at the various stages.

Once the tiles are applied to the reveal of the window, this being the horizontal portion that normally seats above the windowsill, almost exactly to its width in most cases and to the vertical wall area above the top of the window, the suitably extended sections are placed to have full contact with the tile surface or sufficient portion to support them through the drying process. Only the edge of the tile may be in contact with the extended sections surface when vertical tiles are being held.

To support the male and female sections for this period, at least one support leg is installed. This leg is able to extend to suit the area from the surface of the windowsill or similar base point, to the underside of the male and br female section. This leg has static or poseable feet that when extension is at its fullest, provide sufficient pressure and purchase to the device to hold it thus. The male and female sections are therefore held in place and the extended leg which is holding them is held in its newly lengthened vertical by an inserted or screwed pin or method. The leg height would be of any suitably required measurement upon manufacture to allow use across the variations of window heights. A suggested average is 113mm in length for both inserted tubes under extension.

The leg also has a male and female operation, being of the known hollow tubular variant, wherein a male tube passes with a female tube and may be extended and contracted to the desired length and held in place. As the difference in window heights may be subject to just millimetres from window to window, the legs are able to adjust to suit this.

For example: if two legs are used on a window with a larger width, one leg may have to be 3mm higher than the other, due to the erratic nature of window levels either to the windowsill or the upper reveal.

To achieve this it is suggested that the support legs have a fixing or holding method that allows for very small vertical incremental movements. The legs may have holes that are arranged in a line, at an equal and regulated distance from each other, for example, 3mm between each hole throughout the length of the pole. Example only.

These holes pass through the surface of the female leg section but not to the male that is inserted therein. This would allow a threaded bar of suitable diameter to be inserted and screwed through the hole in the female section of the leg. The threaded bar would be of sufficient length to pass suitably within and only protrude enough to allow a handle or button' shaped grip to be attached permanently.

This handle or button' is then rotated in the usual clockwise direction, if chosen, to screw and extend the threaded bar toward to male tube inside. This screwing action would therefore be a matter of a very slight turn, before the end of the threaded bar comes in forced contact with the male tube surface therein. This contact would draw the rotation of the threaded bar to a close and as it has passed through the female tube hold the two male and female tubes firmly in place. It may therefore be possible to have a single hole into which the handle or button' passes at a given point through the outer female tube.

As the male tube is extended and contracted within to a suitable point, the handle or button' is held and the threaded bar screwed in until it ceases. This would create sufficient contact to prevent the two tubes from moving.

A singular bar insert with a thread would possibly benefit from the tubes being of an alloy composite, this would allow for an increased purchase or bite of the bar end against the male tube therein, and decrease the chance of movement.

The tubes may also use a through method, which comprises many holes along the full vertical length of the tubes, passing fully through both inserted tubes. The bar is then screwed or slid into a suitable aligned hole at the desired height. This may also be applied using a single hole, or fewer holes. This is due to the fact that any hole with a bar passing through them at any aligned juncture of the tubes will hold both male and female together, as they cannot pass once it is in place.

The ends of the female and male tube have suitable seating caps or feet. These would be of a known or emerging rubber or variant and of known suitably proportioned shapes and dimensions. As the surfaces to which they are being applied are normally of a smooth and often none textured variety, the design may benefit from being of a circular cupped form. This cupped seating foot would be attached to the ends of both tubes in a removable or permanent method. Removal would be an advantage to support storage in tool bags or similar carriers. The cupped feet may also seat into a cut away indentation located to the end region of the underside of the tile support sections, to help secure their position, if required. These would be of a reflective shape and slightly larger diameter. For example should the foot be circular and 40mm diameter the indentation would be at least 41mm diameter to allow the foot to seat within.

The slight horizontal level differences on windowsills and wall reveals would require slight tilting and movement of the cupped feet. As the tubes are extend to contact with the windowsill and the underside of the tile support sections, this tilting method of the cupped feet would allow for them to self-locate to the slight variant in the level being presented to them. It would also allow for deposits and dirt on contact surfaces.

A free movement of the cupped feet would therefore be advised, this would improve application of the whole system and the user can insert the pin or bar through the supporting legs and hold the tile support above securely in place.

The male and female horizontal extensions that form the tile support itself would require inserts to the male section. The male section passes within the female and therefore the female section is very slightly prouder when in place with the tile surfaces than the male. Inserts that are located to the male surface would allow for this slight difference in contact with the tiles, in some applications. The inserts may pass the full width of the male surface or be applied in any position to its plane that provides complete adjustment and levelling of both sections when in contact with the tiles.

Although various window widths are taken into examination when deciding what size and length to make the male and female sections, it may be required to provide a single female or male section, centred, with two male or female sections protruding from each end opening of the centred section therein.

This would dictate that each of the three sections be allowed a shorter length and therefore compact into a more portable size but also as the gradients of their extension may be slighter due to their ability to contract into a smaller three stage device, it may be possible for this option to accommodate smaller but also a full range of all window sizes To aid these sections to remain compliant and ridged when extended, a male and female groove and runner is advised. A protruding male runner being seated, in the known way, within a female groove located to in at least one of the sections. These would be inserted in a none removable way to ensure they always remain intact with each other and a stopping fitting would be provided to prevent them fully extending and coming apart.

This action may also be applied to the device with only a single male and female section. The use of runners may be replaced by any known way of allowing a free sliding motion between two objects that allows them to remain intact.

Brief description of fiQures

Figures 1 show the tile support system fully inserted in a window.

Figures 2 show a single dimensional example of a two section tile support system.

Figures 3 show a single dimensional example of the underside view of a three section tile support system.

Figures 4 show a close view of the male and female sections.

Figures 5 show a sectional view of the tile support system in use and a close view of a securing foot option.

Detailed desôriDtion of figures A typical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 1. The tile support system is structurally calculated and made of none-corrosive lightweight material. A tile support is derived from a female section 1, as shown in Figure 1 being a horizontal plane of slight depth presenting a narrow rectangular cuboid length which allows a male section 2, to slide within the body of the female section 1. The male section 2 being of a reflective shape of I but of slightly lesser equally aligned dimensions. Once extended they form a suitably sized horizontal level plane that suitably contacts with tiles 3 that require support. The tiles 3 are positioned to the upper area of the window 4, as shown.

Extending legs 5, 6, 9 and 10 are provided to support the horizontal sections 1 and 2.

They are vertically positioned with mounting feet 8, ti, 12, and 13 to the upper and lower ends of their tubed lengths, as shown in Figure 1. Mounting feet 11 and 12 seat to the underside of the horizontal sections 1 and 2 and as the upper leg sections 5 and 6 are moved vertically by the user, pressure is applied to the underside by the mounting feet 11 and 12 as the legs 5, 6, 9 and 10 come to their most extendable point between their contact with the underside of the section 1 and 2 and the surface of the windowsill 7 assisted by lower mounting feet 8 and 13.

Once this fullest extension of the leg verticals 5, 6, 9 and 10 is apparent to the user, the legs are held in place by securing means shown in Figurel.

The suitably extended male and female sections 1 and 2 are now pressed in an upward trajectory to contact with the tiles 3, in Figure 1 these tiles are vertically mounted above the window 4 to the wall surface. This allows the tiles 3 to remain in place while the adhesive applied to their opposite face in contact with the wall surface dries. Once the tiles are dry the tile support system may be removed for reuse.

Figure 2 shows the tile support system, as a dimensional example. The female section IA clearly allows for the insertion of the male section 2k The extent of this insertion may vary upon manufacture and the required ability for the two or more sections to be stored when not in use. As the female section IA is slightly prouder or higher to the upper surface than that of the male section 2A, raised inserts 14 may be required.

These may be applied in more positions than shown to the surface of the male section 2s4. Their slight height increase to the utmost contact point of the surface of the male section 2A, aligns with the exacting surface level of the female section IA, providing a true and even contact of both section 1A and 2A to the tiles requiring support.

The upper contact foot 1 1A, shown for one support leg in Figure 2 is located freely by the user to a determined and suitable point when application is taking place.

The supporting leg lower section 1OA being of a more narrowed circular or tubed diameter of that of its housing tube 5A, being the upper part of the leg, is able to enter 5A and decrease or increase 15 the size and extent of the whole combined support leg 5A and I OA, until a desired height is determined.

The support legs may be of any desired diameter shape and form that is deemed suitable, tubular or square for example. The depth of their body would be in keeping with known types of rolled of joined hollow tubes. A few millimetres would form the wall of the tube and the remaining interior would remain a hollow for their full length.

A method using more than two upper sections may be suggested providing sufficient application is addressed toward stability of the sections when extended. This is shown in Figure 3 as an underside view.

A middle section which is female has horizontal plane E and side portions 16 to form a slight canopy semblance that is reflected in the shapes of the male sections F and 17 and D and 18. To the male section 18 and the male section 17 is provided a guide runner 19. This is a grooved elongation that is equal on both sides of each male section and is able to house a protrusion G from the female side portion 16 repeated on both sides. As there are two male sections 0 and F. there are 4 guide lengths 19, as shown in Figure 3. These guide length grooves 19 house a protrusion G from the female section E in the known way, that is of reflective dimensions of the groove but in opposite form. Once these are connected together they allow the three sections D, E and F to slide apart and extend and contract with a more structured action. A stop 20 is applied to the 4 grooved sections 19 to prevent disconnection or over extension of D and F. A location area for the upper feet 21 may be provided to the underside of the male sections D and F. This is slightly larger in circumference than that of the foot to the leg 22, as shown. This allows the foot to be more secured when pressed to the underside of the male sections. This may also apply to female sections should the reverse of format be desired. The leg 23 may have holes as shown into which a holder 24 may be inserted. As the holes may pass through both leg tubes in alignment the inserted holder 24 prevents them from moving and thus secures the two inserted leg sections and foot 11 as they support the tile location area 0, E and F above. An additional securing method of a screw threaded collar H may also be optionally applied to the legs just underneath the upper foot 11 in this single leg example. The collar H would be tightened to add further pressure to foot 11 onto the underside of the section F. for added compression. The leg 23, in this single example, would be threaded toward the end as would the collar interior. The collar is attached to the foot 11 forming a single unit and thus as the collar H is rotated on its corresponding thread the foot 11 rotates to tighten onto the underside of F. This option may be applied to all legs.

Figure 4 shows a close view of the male and female section, these may be of a shaped canopy like form with a hollowed underside or a more solid appearance 27 throughout.

The inserts 14B shown here provide a height alignment 26 to the female section surface 1 B providing a more suited even contact to the tiles.

It may also be desired to attach helpful equipment relevant to the job being executed, including: a liquid level 25, as shown on the female section lB.

In Figure 5 we see a sectional view of a wall with the foot 28 of the support leg being of a flat nature, possibly derived of a rubber of other compound variant. This may be advised to be of a width or diameter that is larger than that of the leg, to increase vertical stability.

This is applied to a lower flat surface, moreover the windowsill 7C, as shown. The tile supporting section 20 is shown in contact and upholding a tile 3C. The tile supporting section 20 being located to the underside facia of the window reveal 29. The upper foot 11 C is depicted in a close up sectional diagram to the top right of Figure 5. This shows only one of an unlimited variation of shapes and forms that the feet may present. The requirement, as previously mentioned, for all of the feet to be able to slightly self-adjust is advised and shown here with a pin 30 passing through the foot 110 and arrows indicate that the foot 1 1C is able to move within millimetres by rocking on the pin. This will allow for the feet to self-accommodate for slight angle and surface differences that may on occasion be prevalent. A further tile position 31 that can also be supported if the tile support system is repositioned is shown in Figure 5.

Claims (10)

1. Claims 1. A tile support system supports tiles in place in an upper window area.
2. 2. A tile support system as claimed in claim 1 supports tiles while their holding adhesive dries to prevent them moving or falling.
3. 3. A tile support system as claimed in claim 2 supports and holds tiles in place in the upper reveal or wall above a window.
4. 4. A tile support system supports and holds tiles with a horizontal surface.
5. 5. A tile support system as claimed in claim 4 supports and holds tiles with a horizontal surface that can be extended or contracted in male and female sections.
6. 6. A tile support system as claimed in claim 5 has a horizontal support surface that has height adjusting inserts.
7. 7. A tile support system as claimed in claim 6 supports and holds tiles with an extendable horizontal surface that is held in place by legs.
8. 8. A tile support system as claimed in claim 7 has legs that may be extended.
9. 9. A tile support system as claimed in claim 8 has legs that may be secured at differing extended lengths.
10. 10. A tile support system as claimed in all previous claims supports tiles on the upper area of a window, in the reveal or wall above the window whilst their adhesive dries, using supporting legs that hold a horizontal tile support surface, which all extends to suit differing window sizes.