GB2588803A - A tiling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A tiling apparatus comprising at least one plate 1 arranged to be placed against a surface on which a tile is to be adhered, an elongate member (12 fig.2) which has a length adjustment means 10 and an end 9 arranged to detachably connect to the plate. The length adjustment means may comprise coaxial telescopic members and locking collars (21 fig.10) operative to locking members the adjustment means may further or otherwise comprise a ratchet mechanism (14 fig.3). The plate may comprise a socket (62 fig.3) for receiving an end of the elongate member. The plate may comprise an elongate plank.

Description

A TILING APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tiling apparatus, in particular apparatus for supporting tiling as it dries, for example when upside down and subject to gravity; more particularly but not exclusively apparatus for supporting filing in a window reveal or similar rebate.

Backqround Increasing numbers of people are keen to use tiling as a clean and easily maintained surface treatment in various locations in properties.

Tiling some areas can be difficult particularly where gravity acts against the file adhesive. It can be problematic to support tiling as the adhesive dries.

Prior Art

GB 2 516 908 (WALKER) discloses a 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 and female lAsecfions. The support surface may incorporate height adjusting inserts. The surface may be held in place using extendible legs 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.

DE 202 012 002 195 (HANDELSVERTRETUNG) discloses a holder for fixing objects or telescopic support, such as ceiling files, ceiling lamps, tracks and other objects, which overhead or/and inclined walls, usually must be supported prior to assembly, comprising at least 2 telescopable tubes or profiles, which can be extended to a desired length and can be fixed by one or more clamps, a chuck means is attached to at least one of the tubes, and a feed which is provided and clamping release means, which has a round or polygonal rod or a tube or a pipe rack or may include, by moving the feed and clamping release means, can be tightened and released again, and whether a thread tension of the telescopic unit mounted on the other tube, mounted in the pipe by a threaded nut and a threaded rod rotates therein, and the slope of the thread by rotation of the telescopic support itself axially moved, and then stretched..

GB 2 499 244 (WRIGHT) discloses a simple straight edge bar that supports tiles to the downwardly facing upper surface of a window reveal. The bar has adjustable grips that will support the bar between the side walls of the window recess, to the side of the window frame, the tiles will then be supported by a number of paddles that have been inserted into a T groove in the straight edge bar.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided tiling apparatus comprising: a device with at least one plate arranged to be placed against a tiling surface on which a tile is to be adhered, the apparatus includes an elongate member with a first and a second end, wherein the member has a length adjustment means and has an end that is arranged to detachably connect to the plate so as to support the plate against the tile on the tiling surface as it adheres.

In this way the plate of the apparatus provides an enlarged contact with a tiling surface.

The device may comprise coaxially telescopic sections.

It may be envisaged that the tiling surface claimed may be a wall of tiles, or a filed rebate of a window or door frame or similar. More particularly the filing surface may be envisaged to be the underside of a structure such as a window frame, wherein typically it may be envisaged that the tiles on the tiling surface may be liable to fall or displace under gravity during an adhesive drying period.

In this way the apparatus provides a portable mechanism of providing a larger expanse of pressure than the device end.

This larger contact area or expanse of pressure is in turn liable to support falling or 5 displacing tiles as required and where required.

It may be envisaged that the device is taken to the location of the tiling surface, the plate attached to the end of the member and the member is extended to the correct length for supporting the filing surface from below, namely wherein the second end is 10 located on a suitable support surface below the supported tiling surface.

In some embodiments the second end may be envisaged or arranged to connect to a plate, in a similar manner to the first end. In this way the device may be envisaged to be capable of use in either orientation and/or the apparatus may comprise plates at 15 either end of the device in use.

In some embodiments the plate may comprise an elongated planar part, with two opposing faces and thin sides. It may be envisaged to be substantially rigid.

In some embodiments the plate may be foldable or hinged, or modular, so as to alter length characteristics in use, and/or provide greater portability.

In some embodiments the device comprises a length adjustment mechanism. This adjustment mechanism may comprise a fine adjustment mechanism, which may be 25 operable in use after the length adjustment means is been operated.

For example in such embodiments in use the device length is adjusted to approximately as required for the tiling surface and support surface, and the apparatus put in place between the support surface and the tiling surface, and the length adjustment mechanism is subsequently operated to ensure the apparatus is secured against the tiling surface.

The length adjustment mechanism may comprise a locking mechanism. For example the length adjustment mechanism may comprise mechanism to lock the 35 device at a set length and/or the plate against the filing surface.

In some embodiments the locking mechanism comprises a ratchet, cam or asymmetric locking mechanism. For example the locking mechanism may comprise an over-centre locking mechanism, which may be envisaged to gently push the ends apart during locking. This may then serve to create the final adjustment to hold the apparatus in place.

In other embodiments a ratchet mechanism may allow for incremental small increases in pressure against the plate so that the pressure against the plate may be increased to provide a secure fit against the filing and provide pressure to hold it in place.

In some embodiments the adjustment mechanism comprises a screw thread adjustment mechanism. This adjustment mechanism for example may be located centrally or intermediate the ends and/or may be comprised with the length adjustment means, for example wherein the length adjustment means comprises a release for coaxially telescopic sections to extend in length, and the adjustment mechanism comprises a section locking collar joining the sections, which collar may comprise threaded parts locking onto the sections, and so may be used for fine adjustment of the length once the sections are locked, and incremental or under pressure adjustment is needed.

In some embodiments the plate and device are arranged to connect through a screw thread connection. In some embodiments the plate and device are arranged to connect through a friction, interference or tolerance fit connection.

In preferred embodiments it may be envisaged that the plate comprises a female socket which may contain a screw thread. The first end may thereby comprise a male end or plug, which may also comprise a thread. The male end may be freely rotatable on the first end so that the length adjustment means is unaffected and/or able to rotate without affecting the plate.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, with the device extended; Figure 2 shows a front view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, with device retracted; Figure 3 shows a detail isometric view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, with the plate displaced from the device; Figure 4 shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 5 shows a detail view of the device as shown in the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 shows an isometric detail view of the device as shown in the embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 7 shows an isometric view of the device as shown in the embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 8 shows an isometric detail view of the device as shown in the embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 9 shows an isometric detail view of the device as shown in the embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; and Figure 10 shows an isometric detail view of the device as shown in the embodiment 30 of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of the device generally 35 showing tiling apparatus 99 comprising: a device 2 and plate 1 arranged to be placed against a tiling surface (not shown); the device 2 comprised of an elongate member 12 with a first 5 and a second end 6, wherein the member 12 comprises a length adjustment means 3 and the first end 5 is arranged to temporarily connect to the plate 1.

In particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises an elongate multi-partite coaxially telescopic pole 12 with three pole members.

These pole members are connected at collars 21 intermediate the members.

These collars 21 allow the length adjustment means, comprising locking collars, which are turned to release or lock the extension.

At the top or first end 5 of the device 2 there is located a male part 13 arranged to allow connection to the plate 1. The male part comprises a stud projecting axially 15 from the end of the topmost member, which stud has two laterally extending bayonet projections.

At the top end of the topmost member the pictured embodiment of the device comprises a length adjustment mechanism 10, which is arranged to provide a small length adjustment, for final positioning of the plate 1 against the tiling surface.

The length adjustment mechanism 10 comprises a lever handle 11 and a ratchet means 14, wherein the length adjustment mechanism comprises a top part and a lower part, wherein the top part is arranged to support the end of the member, and 25 the lower part is attached to the coaxially telescoping part of the member.

The lever pushes upwards against the ratchet incrementally when pulled downwards, so that the top part of the length adjustment mechanism 10 is pushed into the plate 1 in ratchet increments and locks into the correct length.

In this way the length adjustment mechanism is arranged to axially displace the top part from the lower part by steps, and consequently the first end 5 from the rest of the device 2 with stepped increase in pressure.

The second end 6 of the device comprises a foot 7, with an enlarged diameter, so as to spread the load better and increase surface contact.

The foot 7 may be formed in a resiliently deformable material at least in part so as to accommodate variant support surfaces.

The plate 1 comprises a moulded thermoplastics plank, with one or more sockets 62 depending on embodiment and number of devices for which it is to be used.

Two sockets 62 are comprised near the ends of longer plates, for support at either end and a single socket 62 is comprised in shorter plates, located centrally for 10 support of shorter lengths of tiling.

The socket 62 enables the bayonets of the first end of the device to be turned and locked into the plate, whereby the socket comprises a partial thread internally.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims (8)

1. Claims 1 A filing apparatus comprising: a device with at least one plate arranged to be placed against a surface on which a file is to be adhered, the apparatus includes: an elongate member with a first and a second end, wherein the member has a length adjustment means and has an end that is arranged to detachably connect to the plate so as to support the plate against the tile after it has been placed on the surface to hold the file against the surface as it adheres to the surface.
2. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the length adjustment means comprises a device with coaxial telescopic members and locking collars which are operative to lock members.
3. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 comprising a length adjustment mechanism for fine length adjustment of the device.
4. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the length adjustment mechanism comprises a ratchet mechanism.
5. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the length adjustment mechanism comprises a lever.
6. 6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the plate comprises a socket for receipt of a first end of the device.
7. 7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the plate comprises an elongate plank.
8. 8. A device for connecting to one or more plates to provide apparatus according to any of the preceding claims.