NZ710701A

NZ710701A - A tile floor/wall covering system and related components

Info

Publication number: NZ710701A
Application number: NZ710701A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Bradley William Smith; Barry William Smith
Original assignee: Bradley William Smith; Barry William Smith
Priority date: 2012-10-24
Filing date: 2012-10-24
Publication date: 2017-02-24

Abstract

Disclosed is a tile system comprising a plurality of quadrilateral shaped tiles having two spaced apart face sides and 4 edges extending between said face sides, an elongate spacer to locate between at least two adjacent tiles to space said tiles from each other and to locate in a slot or rebate of each so spaced tile. The two spaced apart face sides are a back side and a front side. The rebate or slot is located intermediate of said face sides. The rebate or slot is a rebate and is located at the junction of a face side and The slot or rebate is located midway between the two face sides. Each said side of each said tile has a slot or rebate The slot or rebate of each side of said tile is coplanar each other. The slot or rebate extends parallel to the face sides of the tile. Both face sides are planar and parallel to each other. The spacer is of constant cross section and is elongate. The spacer is straight. The spacer can extend between two rows of a plurality of tiles. The spacer can help align a row of tiles. The spacer can help align two adjacent rows of tiles. Secondary spacers are provided that laterally extend between two parallel first mentioned spacers located each side of a row of tiles and space adjacent tiles in that row from each other. The secondary spacers are of the same cross section as the first mentioned spacer.

Description

A TILE FLOOR/WALL COVERING SYSTEM AND RELATED COMPONENTS The present invention relates to a tile floor or wall covering system and related components Ceramic tiles are well utilised in bathrooms and kitchens and elsewhere to provide a nice aesthetic wall cover. Ceramic tiles can be heavy to transport and handle, fragile and and brittle and difficult to cut, especially for the home handyman. Grout used intermediate of tiles, and the adhesive used to adhere the tiles can be difficult and messy to handle. Applying tiles to a surface is also not an easy process in terms of getting the tiles aligned with each other and with adjacent walls or other objects.

There is hence a need to for a tile system that is easy to handle, trim, install and finish.

Accordingly it's an object of the present invention to provide a tile floor or wall covering system and related components that address the abovementioned disadvantages and/or the above mentioned desiderata and/or will at least provide the pubic with a useful choice.

Accordingly the present invention may broadly be said to be a spacer for use in spacing tiles wherein the spacer creates a bridge and/or grout-like bridging between adjacent like tiles the spacer defining the minimum space between adjacent like tiles with which the spacer is engaged, and wherein said spacer has a region which is softer than the remainder of the spacer, the softer region acting, in use, to effect a seal which substantially seals the space between said adjacent tiles at said spacer.

Preferably the spacer defines the minimum space between tiles with which the spacer is engaged.

Preferably the spacer is T shaped in cross section.

Preferably the spacer is H shaped in cross section.

Preferably the spacer is X shaped in cross section.

Preferably the spacer is provided with a rigid or textured surface.

Preferably said softer region includes a trim surface presented so as to be contiguous with two adjacent tiles and bridging there between.

Preferably the softer region is resiliently deformable such that when the spacer is located for use, the softer region can be deformed to force a seal against a surface of each of said adjacent tiles.

In a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a spacer as described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In yet a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a tile as described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In yet a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a tile and spacer system as described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Also herein described is a tile system comprising: a plurality of quadrilateral shaped tiles having two spaced apart face sides and 4 edges extending between said face sides, an elongate spacer to locate between at least two adjacent tiles to space said tiles from each other and to locate in a slot or rebate of each so spaced tile.

Preferably said two spaced apart face sides are a back side and a front side.

Preferably the rebate or slot is located intermediate of said face sides.

Preferably said rebate or slot is a rebate and is located at the junction of a face side Preferably the slot or rebate is located midway between the two face sides.

Preferably each said side of each said tile has a slot or rebate Preferably the slot or rebate of each side of said tile is coplanar each other.

Preferably the slot or rebate extends parallel to the face sides of the tile.

Preferably both face sides are planar and parallel to each other.

Preferably the spacer is of constant cross section and is elongate.

Preferably the spacer is straight.

Preferably the spacer can extend between two rows of a plurality of tiles.

Preferably the spacer can help align a row of tiles.

Preferably the spacer can help align two adjacent rows of tiles.

Preferably secondary spacers are provided that laterally extend between two parallel first mentioned spacers located each side of a row of tiles and space adjacent tiles in that row from each other.

Preferably the secondary spacers are of the same cross section as the first mentioned spacer.

Preferably the secondary spacers are of a length equal to the side of a tile at which is it to be located.

Preferably the spacers (secondary and/or first mentioned) are made of a plastic material.

Preferably the spacers (secondary and/or first mentioned) are extruded.

Preferably the spacers (secondary and/or first mentioned) each comprise of a central member to locate intermediate of two tiles and from which two lip members extend to each located in a slot of rebate of a tile located at each side of said spacer.

Preferably the two lip members extend laterally and in opposed directions from said intermediate member.

Preferably the two lip members are coplanar each other.

Preferably the tiles are square or rectangular.

Preferably the tiles are made from a wood based product.

Preferably the tiles are made from a recomposed wood based product.

Preferably the tiles are resistant to water absorption.

Preferably the slot or rebate is machined into the tile.

Preferably the slot or rebate is otherwise formed in the tile.

Preferably the slot or rebate is located about the entire tile.

Preferably the there are two slots or rebates located spaced apart at each edge of the tile, each capable of receiving a part of the spacer.

Preferably the spacers (secondary and/or first mentioned) presents a trim surface contiguous two adjacent tiles and bridging there between.

Preferably the trim surface is flush with two coplanar face sides of adjacent tiles.

Preferably the trim surface is set back from the two coplanar face sides of adjacent tiles.

Preferably the trim surface is in use proud of the face sides of two adjacent tiles.

Preferably the spacers (secondary and/or first mentioned) presents two trim surfaces to each be contiguous two adjacent tiles and bridging there between.

Preferably the spacers (secondary and/or first mentioned) a presents two trim surfaces to each be contiguous two adjacent tiles and bridging there between, a first trim surface being flush with or proud of two coplanar face sides of adjacent tiles and a second trim surface being set back from the opposite coplanar face sides of the adjacent tiles.

Preferably the spacer is reversible to allow a first trim surface to be presented in a manner flush with or proud of the exposed two coplanar face sides of adjacent tiles or to allow a second trim surface to be presented in a manner set back from the exposed two coplanar face sides of adjacent tiles.

Preferably the lip members act as the trim surface.

Preferably the lip members do not act as the trim surface.

Preferably the spacer is T shaped in cross section.

Preferably the spacer is H shaped in cross section.

Preferably the spacer is X shaped in cross section Preferably the spacer allows for a flush grouted look to be presented between tiles.

Preferably the spacer allows for a negative detail grouted look to be presented between tiles.

Preferably the tiles are covered at least partially on one face side with a pre-applied adhesive.

Preferably the spacer is adapted and configured to provide a seal which substantially seals the space between said two adjacent tiles.

Preferably the spacer has a region which is softer than the remainder of the spacer, and wherein the softer region acts to effect the seal.

Preferably the softer region includes a trim surface presented so as to be contiguous two adjacent tiles and bridging there between.

Also herein described is a tile having 4 sides each side including a groove into which a tongue of a spacer to located intermediate of adjacent tiles can locate.

Preferably the spacer creates a grout like bridging between adjacent like tiles.

Preferably the spacer creates a bridge between adjacent like tiles.

In a further aspect the present invention may be said to be tiling system comprising a spaced and a plurality of tiles each having 4 sides each side including a groove into which a tongue of a spacer to located intermediate of adjacent tiles can locate.

Preferably the spacer creates a bridge between adjacent like tiles.

Also herein described is a spacer for use in a tiling system as herein before described.

Preferably the spacer creates a bridge between adjacent like tiles.

Preferably the spacer is T shaped in cross section.

Preferably the spacer is H shaped in cross section.

Preferably the spacer is X shaped in cross section.

The term “comprising” as used in this specification means “consisting at least in part of”. When interpreting each statement in this specification that includes the term “comprising”, features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprises” are to be interpreted in the same manner.

This invention may also be said to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

Reference will now be made to a preferred form of the invention as described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tile, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a spacer, Figure 3 illustrates three rows of tiles intermediate to which the spacer or spacers are provided, Figure 4 is a sectional view through adjacent tiles and a spacer, Figure 5 is a sectional view through an alternative configuration of spacer and tile, Figure 6 – Figure 10 show alternative variations, Figure 11a and 11b show a reversing of the spacer to allow for flush or negative detail appearance to the final finished surface to be provided, Figure 12 is a cross sectional view through adjacent tiles and a spacer which creates a seal to seal the region between the edges of the tiles, Figure 13 shows, in cross section, an alternative configuration of spacer and tile, also wherein the spacer creates a seal to seal the region between the edges of the tiles, Figure 14 shows, in cross section, a further alternative spacer able to seal the region between the edges of adjacent tiles.

With reference to Figure 1 there is shown a tile 1. The tile is preferably quaderlateral in shape but may alternatively be of another shape that is able to tesilate with identical shaped tiles of the same of complementary shape to form a tiled surface of a wall or floor or part thereof.

The preferred tile with reference to the accompanying drawings is shown to be rectangular or square in shape. The tile includes two face sides 2 and 3. The face side 2 may be the side to be presented as a final finish of the tiled surface and the face side 3 may be the backing side or back side which is placed against a wall lining such as a tile underlay or plaster board or similar substrate.

The back side 3 of the tile may be adhered to such a substrate. The back side 3 of the tile may have pre-applied adhesive that may be in the form of an adhesive that has a peel away backing to expose the adhesive so that the tile can then be adhered to the substrate.

Each tile is preferably of similar or the same shape. Each tile also has a plurality of edges 6. For a four sided tile there are four edges each extending between the two face sides 2, 3. The edges present a slot or rebate 7. The slot or rebate 7 is preferably continuous along an edge and preferably continuous about the entire tile. This can be seen with reference to Figure 1 for example.

In a preferred form each edge of the tile presents such a slot or rebate 7 in exactly the same position and of the same shape. With reference to Figure 4, the slot or rebate 7 is presented at such an edge of a tile preferably midway between the face sides 2 and 3. However in an alternative form the slot or rebate 7 may be presented not midway between the face sides 2 and 3 but alternatively offset or at the junction between the side of the tile and a face side such as the back side 3.

Able to be received in the slot or rebate 7 is a tongue or lip 9 of a spacer 10 that is for example shown with reference to Figure 2. The tongue or lip 9 may be of a complimentary shape to the shape of the slot or rebate 7 so as to locate therein. The tongue or lip may have a ridged or textured surface to assist the tongue or lip 9 in engaging with the tile 1 to hold it securely, for example by way of friction or interference.

As an example, as shown in Figure 21, the tongue or lip 9 may have a series of barbs which are oriented such that the lip 9 can easily be pushed into the slot 7, but withdrawing the lip 9 from the slot 7 is made more difficult by engagement of the barbs 21 against the sides of the slot 7.

The spacer 10 is of a shape and configuration a space adjacent tiles at an even distance and consistent distance away from each other. The spacer 10 also includes a trim surface or trim surfaces 11 and 12 that bridge and/or lap adjacent tiles. The trim surface or surfaces present a surface that replicates grout of a traditional tiling system hence the trim surface or surfaces 11, 12 are able to span the gap between the tiles at an appropriate location so as together with the adjacent tiles create a virtually seamless tiled surface.

The spacer may be a plastic such as an extruded plastic. It can be easily trimmed with a trim saw or knife or other kind of blade for example. The spaced may be matching in colour with the tile or a different colour.

The spacer 10 may be of a kind that is reversible so that in one condition a trim surface 11 is presented substantially flush (or proud as in figure 10) with the coplanar surfaces 2 of adjacent tiles as shown in Figure 4. Reversed, the backing face sides 3 are presented as a final visual surface of the tile surface where the trim surface 12 is presented and provides a negative detailed look or recessed grout looked to the finished surface. This can similarly be achieved for example with the configuration shown in Figure 9 where a reversing of the spacer 10 can allow for the trim surface 11 to be presented, (then downward facing) to the opposite sides of the tiles.

The tiles are preferably reversible and have a finished surface on both face sides.

The tiles are preferably made of a wood or wood composite material. The tile may also include a fibre and/or cementitious material including a sandwich construction including such. This allows the tiles to be easily trimmed with a skill saw of bandsaw or similar.

With reference to Figure 3 it can be seen that a plurality of elongate spacers 10A and 10B may be positioned parallel to each other and a row 16 of tiles 1 can be placed intermediate of the spacers 10A and 10B. Secondary spacers 10C may be used to extend transverse to the parallel primary spacers 10A and 10B to extend along the lateral edges of the tiles. The use of the long run spacers 10A and 10B extending adjacent multiple tiles to define a row of tiles or column of tiles, allows for the system of the present invention to be easily utilised. The long run spacers provide for a guide to each row of tiles so that each row of tiles remain substantially aligned and straight. The long run spacers 10A and 10B therefore provide a convenient manner of appropriate spacing adjacent rows of tiles and the short run intermediate spacers 10C provide a convenient way of spacing adjacent tiles within each row.

In some preferred embodiments the spacer 10 serves to create a seal between the contiguous edges 6 of adjacent tiles 1 to keep the region between the edges 6 substantially free of dirt and/or moisture. This precludes the need to apply a glue, filler or sealant composition between the tiles in order to seal them.

Preferably the spacer 10 has a region 18 that is formed from a material which is softer (i.e. has greater elasticity, plasticity and/or flexibility) than the material from which the remainder of the spacer 10 is formed, and preferably this softer region 18 acts to seal the spaces between the edges 6 of adjacent tiles when the spacer 10 is located for use. As an example, a region 18 of softer material may be formed from flexible, soft or plasticised PVC, while the remainder of the spacer may be formed from rigid or substantially unplasticised PVC.

It is preferable that the softer region 18 has a capacity to effect the seal while accommodating small variances in the distance between the edges 6 of adjacent tiles 1 along the length of the spacer 10. In some embodiments the region 18 of softer material may be malleable or pliable and so can be deformed (without cracking or breaking) to conform to the shape of the gap between the edges 6 of adjacent tiles to form a seal. In some embodiments the region 18 of softer material can be compressed (without cracking or breaking) when the spacer 10 is located between contiguous tiles 1 and held between the tile surfaces so as to form a seal.

Preferably the region 18 of softer material is resiliently deformable, so that when located between the tiles, it tends to force a seal against the surface of the tile 1. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 12 the spacer 10 has a resiliently deformable region 18, and the central web 19 of the spacer 10 is slightly shorter than the distance y between the groove 7 and face 2 of the tile 1, such that in use the spacer 10 will tend to force a seal (by way of a force acting substantially in the direction shown in the arrows) against the faces 2 of the adjacent tiles 1.

As a further example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 13 the spacer 10 has a resiliently deformable region 18 which is slightly wider than the distance x between the edges 6 of the adjacent tiles 1, such that in use the spacer 10 will tend to force a seal (by way of a force acting substantially in the direction shown in the arrows) against the edges 6 of the adjacent tiles 1.

As a further example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 14, the resiliently deformable region 18 of the spacer 10 has outwardly flared sidewalls 20. The sidewalls flare out slightly wider than the distance (for example distance x) between the edges 6 of the adjacent tiles to be sealed, and thus when the spacer is located between the tiles 1 region 18 is compressed to force a seal against the edges 6 of the tiles.

In some embodiments the region 18 of softer material may include the trim surface 11 which is visible between the adjacent tiles 1. In other embodiments the region 18 may include other portions of the spacer 10 instead of or as well as the trim surface 11, for example the tongue or lip 9.