GB2561436A

GB2561436A - Flooring

Info

Publication number: GB2561436A
Application number: GB1802150.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Grant Hase Julian
Original assignee: Hampshire Tile Warehouse Ltd
Current assignee: Hampshire Tile Warehouse Ltd
Priority date: 2017-02-14
Filing date: 2018-02-09
Publication date: 2018-10-17
Also published as: GB201703055D0; GB201802150D0

Abstract

The device 1 has a peripheral wall structure 2 around an inner space, the inner space divided up into sub-regions by four wall portions 5 which extend from a central region to the peripheral walls, the device including frangible portions to allow it to be broken into smaller sub-devices. The device may be a circular ring having 4 quadrants. The peripheral wall may be stepped to allow stacking of the device e.g. to adjust mortar height. The peripheral wall may be divided into portions separated by gaps 12 having connector (7, Fig. 7) with thin notched regions 7b which may be broken or snapped. The wall portions may meet a central portion (9, Fig. 8) via breakable notched portions. In use multiple devices may be laid out across a surface to be tiled or paved, with half or quarter sized sub-devices placed at edges or corners, and cement laid across the surface to just above the walls, creating a level surface to receive tiles (see Figs. 9/10).

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Flooring

Abstract Title: Mortar levelling device for laying under flooring units (57) The device 1 has a peripheral wall structure 2 around an inner space, the inner space divided up into sub-regions by four wall portions 5 which extend from a central region to the peripheral walls, the device including frangible portions to allow it to be broken into smaller sub-devices. The device may be a circular ring having 4 quadrants. The peripheral wall may be stepped to allow stacking of the device e.g. to adjust mortar height. The peripheral wall may be divided into portions separated by gaps 12 having connector (7, Fig. 7) with thin notched regions 7b which may be broken or snapped. The wall portions may meet a central portion (9, Fig. 8) via breakable notched portions. In use multiple devices may be laid out across a surface to be tiled or paved, with half or quarter sized sub-devices placed at edges or corners, and cement laid across the surface to just above the walls, creating a level surface to receive tiles (see Figs. 9/10).

Figure 1

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FLOORING

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to a device for use in installing flooring.

Background

Installation of flooring units, such as tiles and slabs, typically requires that a quantity of cement-based base material is provided to support the flooring units. However, known methods can be cumbersome, wasteful of material and unsatisfactory.

We have devised a device which seeks to improve the process of installing flooring units.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a device for use in installing flooring, comprising:

a peripheral wall structure, which surrounds an inner space, the inner space arranged to receive and retain a quantity of base material for fixing flooring thereon, the device may further comprise four wall portions, which extend from a substantially central region of the inner space towards the peripheral wall structure, and may be radially extending, and serve to divide the inner space into sub-regions the device may further comprise a number of frangible portions to allow the device to be divided to into at least one sub-device.

The at least one sub-device arranged for use in retaining the base material therein for fixing an overlying flooring.

The wall portions may be arranged to divide the inner space into quadrants.

The sub-device may comprise a two quadrant piece, or to a single quadrant piece.

The sub-device is preferably of inferior footprint area than the (undivided) device.

The frangible portions may be viewed as allowing the device to be halved and/or quartered.

The peripheral wall structure may be of substantially circular outline, preferably when viewed in plan. The peripheral wall structure may be substantially in the form of a ring. It will be appreciated that the peripheral wall structure may be of other outline shapes, such as square, rectangular or (regular) multi-sided or polygonal.

The peripheral wall structure is preferably arranged to retain the base material within the inner space.

The base material may comprise mortar or a cement mixture, or a mixture comprising sand or cement, or more generally a settable or curable material for providing a basal support to flooring, such as a mixture comprising a binder and aggregate (such as sand).

The device preferably, in use, provides an underlying structure for supporting, at least in part, one or more flooring units.

By 'flooring', we include, in general terms, different types of (rigid) flooring units, such as tiles and slabs, which may be formed of a variety of materials such as concrete, stone and porcelain as well as paving, used to provide a flooring structure (whether internal or outdoor).

The flooring may be for use on patios, balconies, roof structures and other floor structures.

The device may be viewed as a bedding structure for flooring.

The device may in addition, or alternatively, be viewed as a pedestal for setting flooring. It will be appreciated however, that supported paving need not necessarily, in use, make direct supporting contact on the upper surface of the device.

The device may comprise a first opening and a second opening, the openings spaced apart in the direction of the height of the device. Each of the first opening and the second opening communicate with the inner space. The first opening may be at an upper end of the device, and the second opening is at a lower end of the device. The device may be described as an open-ended device.

At least one of the frangible portions of the device is provided in or adjacent to the peripheral wall structure.

The at least one frangible portion preferably arranged allow the device to be divided manually, including by way of a manually applied force. The at least one frangible portion preferably arranged to broken apart or snapped apart. This is preferably without the need for use of tools, such as for cutting or sawing.

The at least one frangible portion may comprise one or more notches. The notches may be formed within or adjacent to the peripheral wall structure.

The (radially extending) wall portions may form partitions such as to substantially retain the base material within a respective quadrant. The (radially extending) wall portions may each comprise a baffle.

The (radially extending) wall portions may be connected to a central portion or formation, which is preferably located substantially centrally of the device.

The (radially extending) wall portions may be arranged substantially orthogonally to each other.

The (radially extending) wall portions may connect to the peripheral wall structure, in a direct or indirect manner. For example, a radially outermost portion of the (radially extending) wall portions may connect to the peripheral wall structure by way of a connecting or bridging portion.

The peripheral wall structure may comprise a number of (substantially) discrete wall portions, which are interconnected. Each of the peripheral wall portions may be of substantially arcuate form/shape. The peripheral wall structure may be considered as being discontinuous in the sense that although collectively connected together, distal ends of the discrete wall portions of neighbouring peripheral wall portions are spaced apart by a gap which 'breaks' or discontinues the overall circular outline. This may be embodied as a number of gaps between distal ends of respective (connected) peripheral wall portions. The distal ends of the respective peripheral wall portions may be connected by a connector.

The frangible portions may allow the individual (radially extending) wall portions and peripheral wall portions to be selectively detached from the device.

The peripheral wall of one structure may be operatively nestable on a peripheral wall of a second device.

A supporting surface of a lower first device provides nesting for a second device stacked on the first device. The supporting surface may comprise a shoulder, which may form part of a stepped configuration (when viewed in sectional profile). The devices preferably configured to be used when stacked/nested.

The peripheral wall structure may comprise a stepped profile, when viewed in vertical cross-section. An uppermost margin of the peripheral wall structure may be of greater diameter than a lowermost margin or lowermost region of the peripheral wall structure.

The stepped profile/structure of the peripheral wall may comprise at least one riser portion and at least one step (or shoulder) portion. Preferably, at least two riser portions and at least one step portion are provided, with the step portion intermediate of the riser portions.

The invention may include one or more features described in the description and/or as shown in the drawings, either individually or in combination.

The principal dimensions of the device may be such that a (maximum) lateral dimension of the device, such as external diameter, is greater than the height of the device. The device may be described as being of squat form.

The bedding structure may comprise a floor pedestal.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of laying a flooring, comprising deploying multiple devices of the first aspect of the invention on a surface, providing a base material within in the inner space of each of the devices, applying an adhesive onto an upper surface of the base material, and positioning flooring units on the adhesive.

The invention may include one more features as described in the description and/or as shown in the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device for laying flooring,

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the device of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the device of Figure 1,

Figures 4 and 5 are diametric sections of the device of Figure on A-A and B-B,

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the sectional region shown in Figure 4,

Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a frangible connector of the device,

Figure 8 is an enlarged view of another frangible connector of the device,

Figure 9 is a plan view of flooring tiles installed using the device of Figure 1, and

Figure 10 is a partial cross-sectional side elevation of a device in use.

Detailed Description

With reference to Figure 1 there is shown a device for use in laying and setting paving, in particular for laying and setting porcelain tiles. The device 1 comprises a surrounding ring-like structure formed by a peripheral wall 2. The device 1 further comprises a central region from which extend four radially extending wall portions 5. As will be explained in detail below, the device 1 enables the convenient laying and setting of paving units such as porcelain tiles, or indeed other rigid flooring units, by way of the device 1 being filled with a mortar or like base material to support the paving and provide an upper surface to affix the paving in position.

The peripheral wall 2 comprises four distinct portions, equally angularly positioned relative to one another. Each of the wall sections is of what may be termed a stepped profile in cross-section. This stepped profile can be best seen in Figure 6. In general terms the uppermost region of the peripheral wall is at a greater diameter or radial position as compared to the lowermost portion of the peripheral wall. The stepped profile of the peripheral wall comprises a lip 2a, an upright (or riser) portion 2b, a supporting shoulder (or step) 2c and an upright portion 2d. The stepped profile further comprises an underlying locating shoulder 2e. Advantageously, this stepped profile allows two or more devices 1 to be nestable one on the other. For example, the underlying locating surface 2e of a first device 1 if nested on a second device 1 would be located on the support shoulder 2c of the second device. This is of particular use where the required height of flooring does not correspond to the use of a single device 1 and therefore two or more devices can be conveniently stacked together so as to achieve a desired flooring height. Alternatively, the user may adjust the height of a mortar bed, or like, on which the device may be placed, so as to ultimately achieve a required height for the flooring.

As mentioned above, the device 1 comprises four radially extending wall portions 5 which extend from a central region towards the peripheral wall 2. The wall portions 5 serve to divide or compartmentalise the space which is bounded by the peripheral wall into quadrants. Each of the radially wall portions 5 is of substantially the same height as the height of the peripheral wall 2. Radially outermost ends of the walls 5 are connected to the peripheral wall indirectly by way of a connector arrangement 7. The connector arrangement 7 can be seen and is shown more clearly in Figure 7. As can be seen, the connector 7 comprises two limbs 7a which on one part converge towards connecting with the radially outermost end of a wall 5, and for the other part connect respectively with a respective arcuate peripheral wall portion. Each of the limbs 7 comprises a frangible region which in this embodiment is provided by way of two opposed notches which are formed in each of the limbs. These allow one or more respective peripheral wall portions to be manually detached from connection to a radially extending wall portion 5. The frangible notch formations are shown in Figure 7 by reference numeral 7b. The frangible notches 7b in essence provide weakened portions which on the one hand provides sufficient structural integrity for use of the device, however are nevertheless sufficient to allow a user to manually detach or 'snap' off a particular peripheral wall portion from connection to the overall device 1. It will also be appreciated that the use of the connector 7 as part of the device 1 results in there being a gap between the distal end regions of each of the peripheral wall portions, the gap is indicated by the reference numeral 12 in the Figures.

The connector 7 and more particularly the limbs 7a, when viewed in plan, form a Vshaped formation.

Turning now to the centremost region of the device and in particular the manner in which the opposing distal ends of the radial wall portions 5 are connected together. Reference is made to Figure 8 in which it can be seen that there is a centralised portion 9 to which each of the opposing ends of the radial wall portions are connected. Each of the wall portions 5 can be considered as radiating from the centre portion 9. Each distal end of the radial walls 5 connects to an outer surface, or an outer region, of the centre portion 9 by way of a frangible interface or connection therebetween. Advantageously, this frangible connection enables on the one hand, in normal use, the radial walls 5 to remain connected to the centre portion 9, however on the other hand, to enable by applied manual force, to detach one or more of the distal ends 5 from being connected to the centre portion 9. The interface or frangible connection is shown in Figure 8 by reference numeral 11. The frangible connection may take many forms, for example a reduced extent of surface area connection between the distal ends of the radial walls 5 and the centre portion 9. The frangible connection or interface could also take the form of a weakened portion, such as a bridging portion which connects the radial walls 5 to the centre portion 9.

In the above two immediately preceding paragraphs discussion has been made concerning the various frangible connections which are included in the device 1. These frangible connections advantageously enable a user to reconfigure the device according to a particular part of the footprint of the area within which the flooring is to be installed. In particular, where it is required to provide a device adjacent to a corner or cornered boundary, then the user can conveniently divide the device into either a single quadrant or into two quadrants (ie namely a half device). It is preferred that no tools are required to enable the use to divide device and that this can be done very simply by way of a manual force applied to the particular frangible connections. However, it could be that in alternative embodiments that a tool is required in order to cut or form the shape to complement a particular boundary shape such as a straight boundary or a cornered boundary. It will be appreciated that even when the device is divided down into either a single or a double quadrant formation, the radial walls 5 are of such a height so as to ensure that mortar or other bedding material is constrained within the internal area bounded by the two or more radial walls 5 together with the one or more peripheral wall portions 2.

As be best seen in Figure 3, the largest lateral dimension of the device, in particular its external diameter, is greater than the height of the device. The device 1 may be described as being of squat form.

A further advantage of the radial walls 5, in addition to serving as a mortar constraining function, is also to add some degree of structural integrity and rigidity to the device 1. This is useful in minimising unwanted flexure of the device, to ease handling and placement of the device.

Expanding on the sub-devices described above, in order to form a double quadrant or half device, two neighbouring peripheral wall portions can be manually detached, without the need for any special tool, as well as the radial wall portion 5 which is located between the two peripheral wall portions 2.

In order to form a single quadrant from the device 1, three neighbouring peripheral wall portions 2 can be removed together with two of the radial walls 5.

In use, multiple devices 1 are placed on a surface, such as a ground surface, in regular spaced-apart formation determined by the size(s) of the flooring units to be laid, typically in what may be termed a grid or array. This would typically be such as to ensure that support is provided to the flooring units underneath the junctions between adjacent units. Having correctly laid the devices out, each device is then filled with a fixing material such as mortar, typically a wet mixture. The devices are filled such that the height of the material is slightly above the height of the device. In this way, the upper surface of the material provides an area on which the flooring units can be located and fixed.

Reference is made to Figures 9 and 10 in which laid section of flooring units is shown, which utilises the device 1. Once the base material has fully or partially set, a quantity of an adhesive material 20 is provided on the uppermost surface thereof. This enables flooring units to be fixed in position on the base material. The adhesive 20 is preferably a cement based adhesive (for example of the C2 adhesive type). Once the adhesive has been applied, the flooring unit 30 can be placed on top to be fixed in position. As can be seen in Figure 10, a base material 15 is provided, which is contained within the device 1 conforms to the uneven surface 50a of the ground 50. With reference to Figure 9, underlying the flooring units 30 are devices 1, as well as half sub-devices 1 and quarter sub-devices 1', located at the boundary of the area.

It will be appreciated that use of the device 1 enables straightforward yet accurate laying of flooring units, such as tiles. The base material, such as mortar, being constrained by the walls of the device, ensures accurate placement of the support positions provided to the flooring. This also provides accurate height location for the flooring. Since the flooring units are accurately and securely fixed in position, this allows a grouting material to be applied between opposed edges of neighbouring flooring units.

Further advantages include:

No integrated spacer is provided so variable joint widths are possible.

The device can be used on compacted aggregates and irregular surfaces. Since the lowermost part of the device is open (i.e. material retained in the spaced defined by the device is not supported by the device), the material will rest on the ground of subbase provided (as shown in Figure 10, and described above). It is therefore able to readily self-conform and adapt to the uneven or irregular surface that may be provided, unlike a pedestal of known type which has a flat basal surface which could result in an uneven footing for the flooring.

Use of the device 1 results in reduced requirement of the quantity of cement required.

The device 1 restricts the amount of base material (and therefore cement required). This in turn not only reduces cost due to unnecessary amounts of base material being used or wasted, it also has an indirect impact on CO2 emissions (with significant amounts of CO2 resulting from the production of cement).

In a further embodiment of the invention, the device 1 may be in accordance with the embodiment above, save that it is not provided with any frangible portions, such that it is intended to be used only as a unitary item, and not divided into sub-devices. In a similar vein, half-sized and quarter-sized devices could be manufactured as such.

Claims

1. A device for use in laying flooring, comprising:

a peripheral wall structure, which surrounds an inner space, the inner space arranged to receive and retain a quantity of base material for a fixing flooring thereon, the device further comprising four wall portions, which extend from a substantially central region of the inner space towards the peripheral wall structure, and serve to divide the inner space into sub-regions, and the device comprising a number of frangible portions to allow the device to be divided to into at least one sub-device.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the radially extending walls are arranged to divide the inner space into quadrants.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the sub-device comprises at least one of a two quadrant piece, or a single quadrant piece.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the peripheral wall structure is of substantially circular outline, preferably when viewed in plan.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 in which the peripheral wall structure is substantially in the form of a ring.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which at least one of the frangible portions is provided in or adjacent to the peripheral wall structure.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which at least one of the frangible portions is provided at or adjacent to a central region of the inner space of the device which enables disconnection of a radially inner end portion of a respective wall portion.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 which comprises a central structure, to which at least one of the wall portions is frangibly connected, to enable selective detachment of the radially extending portion therefrom.

9. A device as claimed in which a frangible portion of said frangible portions arranged to allow disconnection of a discrete portion of the peripheral wall structure from the device.

5 10. A device as claimed in claim 8, in which the peripheral wall structure comprises a plurality of discrete connected peripheral wall portions, and the frangible portions allow for one or more of the discrete wall portions to be selectively detached from the device.

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11. A device as claimed in claim 10 which comprises a connector which frangibly connects a wall portion to a discrete peripheral wall portion.

12. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the wall portions are each in form of a wall which, in use, serves to compartmentalise the inner space of the

15 device.

13. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the peripheral wall structure comprises a stepped cross-sectional profile, which is arranged to allow nesting of a first device onto a second device.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1802150.1 Examiner: Mr Tom Simmonds