NZ218289A - Tiles retaining clip: clip engaging behind and between tiles - Google Patents

Description

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Patents form No 5 Number 2s! 8 2 8 9 PATENTS ACT 1953 Dated November 13, 1986 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION IMPROVED FIXING MEANS FOR GLAZED TILES */WE BRYAN LESLIE POOL and BRIGITTE URSEL POOL trading as STAIRTREAD SERVICES of 27c Dragon Street, Grenada North, near Tawa, New Zealand, both New Zealand citizens do hereby declare the invention for which #we pray that a Patent may be granted to dos/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - la - 9 1 onon i o ,C 6 iJ The invention comprises a clip for fixing tiles such as glazed tiles or the like to a support surface to be clad with tiles, such as a vertical surface such as a wall, an angled surface such as a roof, or the like.

Such tiles are usually fixed in position by way of an adhesive which adheres the tile directly to the support surface. When tiles are utilised to cover the exterior walls of a building for example, the adhesive used must be such as to fix the tiles securely in position to prevent dislodgement during any movement of the building or . * »•> vibration, and at the same time must allow for a relative " / degree of movement between the wall and the tile during ^ \ ^ o expansion or contraction from temperature and weather ■ ~ ,./• changes. It is not easy to obtain a good bond between the tile and the wall surface to ensure a satisfactory serv^ce^life, and because each tile must be adhered separately to the wall surface care must be exercised to ensure correct placement.

The present invention provides an alternative fixing means whereby wall tiles may be positively fixed to a support surface.

In broad terms the invention may be said to be a clip for fixing tiles to a support surface to be clad with tiles and at least two tiles, said clip comprising a base member adapted to be mechanically fixed to the support surface, at least one hanger member to receive and retain the bottom edge of one tile to support same from below and at least one socket member to receive and retain the upper edge of an adjacent tile to support same from above with the base member concealed behind the tiles, said hanger member comprising a first part depending away from the base member substantially at right angles thereto and a second part depending from the outer end of the first part away from said socket member, the dimensions within said hanger member being such relative to the thickness of said at least one tile that an edge of the tile may be snugly received and retained in said socket member, said socket member comprising a first part depending from the base member substantially at right angles thereto and a second part depending from the outer end of the first part away from said hanger member, the dimensions within said socket member base member being such relative to the thickness of said tile that an edge of the tile may be snugly received and retained in said socket member.

A preferred form of clip of the invention is described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of one form of clip of the invention for fixing tiles with their edges 'flush', two tiles being shown in phantom outline. 2 1 R The clip of the invention is preferably formed by stamping from a suitable sheet material such as a metal material or the like. If the metal is such that it is corrodible the clip can be treated with an anti-corrosive coating such as, for instance, paint or the like. It is also desirable that the clip may alternatively be formed by injection moulding from a suitable plastics material or the like.

The preferred form of clip is intended for fixing tiles such that the edges thereof are substantially flush with the edges of adjacent tiles. It comprises a base member 1, which is preferably substantially rectangular in shape as shown. At least one mounting hole 2 and preferably additional mounting holes 2a are provided for mechanically securing the clip to the support surface by screws, nails, pop rivets or the like (not shown in the drawings). It is also possible that the clip could be secured to the support surface by adhesive or 'spots' thereof. A number of protrusions 4 which are slightly raised above the base member 1 to contact the rear surface of adjacent tiles 5 and 5a, shown in phantom outline, are preferably provided to accommodate any irregularities in the base member of w' the clip and the possibility of the head of the fixing means standing slightly proud of the surface of the base member 1.

The clip comprises two hanger members 6 which each comprise a first part depending outwardly from the base member 1 substantially at right angles and a second part dependinc^-;; v=-r--^ ' * , v .

✓ ' (V, •• v. "%/ A A ^ V / VP V 1 -3 2 % 9 upwardly from the outer end of the first part, as shown. The second part of each hanger member 6 comprises a portion angled inwardly from the outer end of the first part and a second portion angled outwardly from the first portion away from the base member, to form a tile contact point 6a. The dimensions of the hanger members are such that the bottom edge of the upper tile 5a will in use engage in the hanger members to be suitably captured therein, and the gap between the contact point 6a of the hanger members and the base member 1 of the clip is preferably slightly less than the thickness of the tile to be accommodated, so that when the edge of the tile is inserted into the hanger members they will be slightly deformed to exert a gripping action on the tile.

The clip also comprises two socket members 8 to receive the upper edge of a tile 5 below. The socket members 8 are similarly formed to the hanger members 6 and comprise a first part depending from the base member 1 substantially at right angles and a second part depending downwardly from the outer end of the first part; the second part comprises a portion angled inwardly from the outer end of the first part and a portion angled outwardly from the first portion away from the base member, to form a tile contact point to assist in gripping the tile in use. The socket members 8 are again so formed that the width between the contact point of the socket member and the base member is slightly less than the thickness of a tile so that the socket will exert a gripping action on the edge of the tile. ' * o\ '/ * > Til'. 2 18 289 In use of the clips a tile, or a row of tiles, is suitably positioned at the bottom edge of, for example, a wall to be cladded with tiles. Preferably, but not necessarily, the bottom edge of each of these tiles may rest in a channel or on a ledge formed to support the tiles. A clip is then applied to each tile by positioning the socket members of the clip over the upper edge of the tile and moving it downwardly so that the socket members 8 engage over the tile. The clip is then affixed to the wall surface by a screw or the like being passed through the mounting hole 2 of the base member and into the wall. The next row of tiles may then be positioned by inserting the lower edge of each tile into the hanger members 6 of the fixed clips, and the process is repeated until the wall is clad.

An alternative form of clip can be extended to be of an indeterminate length with a multiplicity of hanger members and socket members being positioned at pre-determined intervals along the length of the clip so that one clip can be utilised to support a plurality of adjacent tiles.

Utilising the clip of the invention it is possible to pre-mount a number of the tiles to a panel in, for instance, a factory so that the panel itself can then be fixed to the support surface. This may be of particular benefit where the area to be tiled is of a height that panels can be conveniently used. i z Utilising clips of the invention a wall may be qtlad quickly and accurately. Each tile is positively and mechanically secured to the surface and yet can have a degree of c T ■ movement in relation to contiguous tiles and to the surface that has been clad by the tiles, without adversely affecting the fixing of the tiles to the surface.

The foregoing describes the invention and preferred forms thereof. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated in the scope hereof, as defined in the following claims. 218289

Claims (9)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A clip for fixing tiles to a support surface to be clad with tiles and at least two tiles of similar thickness received and retained in the clip, said clip comprising a base member adapted to be mechanically fixed to the support surface, at least one hanger member which receives and retains the entire thickness of the bottom edge of one said tile to support same from below and at least one socket member which receives and retains the entire thickness of the upper edge of the other said tile to support same from above adjacent said one tile, with the base member concealed behind the tiles, said hanger member comprising a first part extending from the base member substantially at right angles thereto and a second part extending from the outer end of the first part away from said socket member, the dimensions within said hanger member being such relative to said thickness of said tile that at least part of the bottom edge length of said tile is snugly received and retained in said hanger member, said socket member comprising a first part extending from the base member substantially at right angles thereto and a second part extending from the outer end of the first part away from said hanger member, the dimensions within said socket member being such relative to said thickness of said tile that at least part of the upper edge length of the other of said tiles is snugly received and retained in said socket member- 218280 - 8 -

2. A clip and tiles assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hanger member and the socket member extend from the base member substantially intermediately thereof.

3. A clip and tiles assembly as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, wherein said second part of the hanger member comprises a first portion angled from the outer end of said first part towards the base member and a second portion angled from the first portion away from the base member to form a tile contact point at the junction of the first and second portions for assisting in gripping the said one tile.

4. A clip and tiles assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said second part of the socket member comprises a first portion angled from the outer end of said first part towards the base member and a second portion angled from the first portion away from the base member to form a tile contact point at the junction of the first and second portions for assisting in gripping the said other tile.

5. A clip and tiles assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a number of protrusions on the base member which form contact points against the rear of the tiles.

6. A clip and tiles assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising two hanger members and two socket members and wherein the two hanger members extend from the base member between the two socket members. 21828-0 - 9 -

7. A clip and tiles assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and the clip being formed from a single piece of sheet material.

8. A clip and tiles assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clip is coloured to match the colour of the tiles.

9. A clip and tiles assembly for fixing to a support surface to be clad with tiles, substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawing. W per: T.-1E APPLICANT. ATTOnNcT*5 ru.n T- '4 OCT 19?i '