US3020082A

US3020082A - Tile setting apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3020082A
Application number: US705992A
Authority: US
Inventors: Erwin A Engelke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-12-30
Filing date: 1957-12-30
Publication date: 1962-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 1979-02-06

Description

Feb. 6, 1962 E. A. ENGELKE TILE SETTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 30, 1957 8 0 e 3 7% WW0 mm v A m "M m A 4 4 J A TTOIPNE Y5 Feb. 6, 1962 A. ENGELKE 3,020,082

TILE SETTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 30, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 18 INVENTOR.

A1? a Fit Y Erma zzye e A TTOKNEYS 3,020,082 TILE SETTING APPARATUS Erwin A. Engelke, 1510 Sabine St., Austin, Tex. Filed Dec. 30, 1957, Ser. No. 705,992 8 Claims. (Cl. 29487) This invention relates to tile setting apparatus, and particularly to a device on which a group of ceramic tiles may be arranged and supported and then applied as a group to a wall or the like.

In setting tiles on walls, it is customary to first apply a layer of mastic or cement to the wall and then place the tiles in position thereon by hand, one at a time. By the present invention applicant provides a device whereby an entire group of 9, 16, or more tiles may be applied to the wall, all at one time, thus saving much labor and time.

The invention comprises generally a base plate of a size corresponding to the dimensions of the group of tiles it is desired to set as a unit and means for holding the tiles in place on the base plate. The entire group of tiles may then be pressed into the mastic on the wall and the device is arranged so that the holding means may then be released so that the device may be withdrawn from the group of tiles and the latter left in place, adhered to the mastic or cement on the wall. The holding means, in one form of the invention, consists of a flange extending forwardly from an element mounted on the rear face of the base plate adjacent its bottom edge to engage and hold the tiles against vertical movement and further flanges on opposite sides independently movably mounted to engage and clamp the side edges of the group of tiles. The device is provided with handles on the rear face whereby it may be supported and manipulated and manually operable means closely accessible to the handles whereby the operator may manually withdraw all of the flanges from holding engagement with the tiles to thereby release the tiles from the device after they have been applied to the mastic. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a holder for a group of tiles to hold the tiles in predetermined group relation and for setting the same in position in a layer of mastic.

It is another object of this invention toprovide a tile setting device as set forth wherein manual means are provided for releasing the tile holding means, which manual means are readily accessible to the hands of the operator while supporting and manipulating the device.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a tile setting device of the type set forth wherein means are provided for properly grouping and spacing tiles which have locating or spacing lugs thereon.

A. further object of this invention is to provide a tile setting device as set forth and which is of simple construction, economical to manufacture, and reliable and efficient in operation.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a tile setting device of the present invention showing a group of tiles thereon in dotted line;

FIG. 2 is a'rear view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 2 but on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of a different embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5. A preferred form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1

3,020,082 Patented Feb. 6, 1962 it is to be understood that any rectangular shape may be employed, depending on the size and shape of the tiles to be set and the number of tiles it is desired to set at one time. A holding element 8 is pivotally mounted on the rear face of the base plate 2 on a pivot rod 10 sup.- ported by suitable brackets 12. The pivot rod 10 extends through openings in ears 14 on the clamping element 8. The clamping element 8 is in the form of a plate of stiff sheet metal extending downwardly past the lower edge 16 of the base plate 2 and is there turned forwardly to form a flange 18 extending forwardly past the edge 16 and beyond the front face 4 of the base plate 2 (see FIG. 3). Suitable compression springs 20 are arranged between the base plate 2 and a portion of the element 8 on the opposite side of pivot pin 10 from the flange 18. As will be obvious, the compression springs 20 urge the element 8 to rotate counterclockwise about the pivot 10, as seen in FIG. 3, to hold the forward edge portions of the flange 18 in the forward position shown in FIG. 3. That portion of the element above the pivot 1-0, as seen in FIG. 2, is provided with reinforcing or stiffening ribs 22 and with depressed thumb-engaging portions 24.

' The device is further provided with side clamping ele-' ments 26, both. being identical except that one is righthand and the other is lefthand. Only one of the elements 26 will be described and it is to be understood that both are of the same construction.

Each of the elements 26 comprises a stiff sheet metal plate overlying a portion of the rear face of the base plate 2 adjacent a corresponding side edge 28 of the base plate. Each element 26 is provided with a plurality of elongated slots 30 therein. Referring now to FIG. 4, a plurality of threaded studs 32 extend through thebase plate 2 at positions corresponding to the'slots Strand extend through those slots. Washers 33 (FIG. 4) are held in spaced relation by a collar 34 and are held in clamped position surrounding the stud 32 by a suitable nut 36.. The diameter of the collar 34 is slightly less than the width of the slot 30 and the length of collar 34. is

slightly greater than the thickness of the plate element 26. As will be obvious from FIG. 4, plate elements 26 are freely slidable on the rear face of the plate 2 in a direction parallel to the front face and perpendicular to the side edges 28.

Each of the plate elements 26 extends outwardly beyond its corresponding edge 23 and is provided at its outer edge with a forwardly extending flange 38. As best seen in FIG. 3, the flanges 33 terminate substantially in the plane of the front face 4 of plate 2 but are provided with forwardly extending ears 40, integral with the flanges 38 and extending a substantial distance forwardly of the front face 4 of the plate 2. p

FIG. 1 shows the present invention as viewed from the front and wherein a group of ceramic tiles 42 are arranged thereon. The tiles are of the type, commonly used, having spaced lugs 44 extending from at least 'two side edges thereof. When the tiles are arrangedwith the extremities of the lugs 44 engaging an edge of an adjacent tile, the tiles are held spaced apart the proper distance to receive sealing mortar therebetween which is applied in a well-known manner after the tiles are set in place on the wall.

As indicated in FIG. 1, the tiles 42 are placed with their finished or outer faces in contact with the face 4 of base plate 2 and the latter is of such dimensions that the tiles extend at least to the lateral edges 28 of the .base

plate and preferably slightly therebeyond. As is clearly evident from FIG. 1, the ears 40 of flanges 33 engage the side edges of the group of tiles 4-2 with the ears 48 extending between projecting lugs 44 of the tiles on the outer edge of the group on at least one side of the group. Thus, by urging the plate elements 26 inwardly toward each other, their ears 4t) clampingly engage the side edges of tiles on opposite sides of the group and positively hold those tiles in the desired relationship. In use, the device is moved toward the Wall to which the tiles are to be applied in a generally vertical position. The lowermost flange 18 thus acts to support the group of tiles against downward sliding movement.

Referring again to FIG. 2, each of the plate elements 26 is further provided with a deep notch or cut-away portion 46. A pair of handles 43 (see FIG. 3) project rearwardly from the rear face of the base plate 2 and are mounted thereon for rotary movement about the axis of screws 50, which hold the handles assembled to the base plate. The screws 50 extend forwardly from the rear end of the handles 48 and engage internal threads of members 52 extending through base plate 2. Each of the handles 48 is further provided with a generally radially extending pin or arm 54 closely overlying a portion of the adjacent plate element 26 near the notch or cut-away 46. Each of the plate elements 26 is further provided with a pair of upstanding pins 56, one on each side of its corresponding pin 54 on handle 48.

As will be obvious, the handles 48 may be manually rotated about their axes, thus swinging pins 54 on an arc. The pins 54 engage the pins 56 to thereby effect sliding movement of the plate elements 26 in either direction, as indicated by the double-headed arrows. Thus it will be obvious that the handles 48 may be employed by the operator to support and manipulate the tile setting device and while the device is being manipulated or moved about the operator may rotate handles 48 in the manner described, to clamp or release the side edges of a group of tiles thereon. As is evident from FIG. 2, the thumb-engaging portions 24 of the clamp element 8 are located in close proximity to the handles 48 whereby the operator may reach out with his thumbs, while still holding the device by the handles 48, and depress the thumb portions 24 to thereby swing the clamp element 8 about its pivot 10, against the action of compression springs 20, and withdraw its flange 18 rearwardly to thereby release any tiles on the front face of plate 2.

To operate the device thusfar described, assuming that the wall to be tiled has already been provided with a layer of mastic, the operator may place the device on any suitable support with its front face 4 upward so that it rests on the lower edge of the clamp element 8 and the ends of handles 48. In this position the front face 4 is generally horizontal but slopes downwardly toward its bottom edge. Prior to so placing the device, the handles 48 would be rotated to move the flanges 38 and ears 46 outwardly away from edges 28 of plate 2. The operator may then select and place tiles 42 on the front face 4, with their rear faces uppermost, until the desired group of tiles has been arranged. Thereupon the operator may grasp handles 48 and rotate them in a direction to move the flanges 38 and ears 40 inwardly into snug gripping engagement with the sides of the group of tiles. While still urging the handles to rotate in the described clamping direction, the operator may lift the entire device, carry the tiles to the wall to be tiled, and press the entire group of tiles against the mastic closely adjacent previously set tiles thereon. The group of tiles would first be placed in approximate position against the wall and lowered until flange 18 engages the uppermost lugs 44 on the tiles already set therebelow and then thumb pieces 24 are depressed to withdraw flange 18 and the group of tiles may then be pushed downwardly into direct and intimate con tact with the lugs on the tiles therebelow, The entire group of tiles may then be moved laterally so that their laterally projecting lugs 44 engage the side edges of tiles already in place (or other border device), after which the entire device is pressed firmly toward the wall to press the tiles securely onto the mastic. Since the front face of the plate 2 is fiat and planar, the front or outer faces of the tiles will all be aligned in coplanar relation on the wall. Thereafter, the handles 48 are rotated in a direction to release the tiles grouped thereby and the apparatus is withdrawn from the wall leaving the group of tiles in place thereon. It is to be noted that the flanges 38 and cars 40 are of less thickness than the length of the lugs 44 so that the flanges 33 may be moved a short distance outwardly from their tile-holding position, all within the space provided between adjacent tiles by the lugs 44.

he specific structure shown and described in connection with FIGS. 1 through 4 contemplates tiles 42 having the spacing lugs 44 as described. However, it may be desirable at times to set tiles that are not provided with the spacing lugs described but which have only straight unobstructed edges. The apparatus of FIGS. 5 and 6 contemplates the handling of such plain tiles. Much of the structure in FIGS. 5 and 6 is identical to that described in connection with FIG. 2 and those elements bear the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1-4.

In the modification of FIGS. 5 and 6, plates 60 are slidably mounted on the back of the base plate 2 adjacent opposite side edges 26 thereof. The plates 60 are mounted in a manner similar to the plates 26 of FIG. 2 in that they are slidably supported on the base by bolts 32, washers 33 and nuts 36, the same as shown in FIG. 4. The bolts 32 pass through slots 30 in the plates 60, as shown in detail in FIG. 6. Unlike the plates 26 of FIG. 3, the plates 60 do not extend past the edges 28 of the base and are not provided with the flanges 38, previously described. The plates 66 terminate in outer edges 62 spaced inwardly from the edges 28 of the base. The plates 60, however, are provided with the pins 56 cooperating with the pin 54 of the rotatable handles 48.

Each of the plates 60 is provided with upturned ears 64 constituting brackets supporting a pivot rod 66. Each of the pivot rods 66 pivotally supports a flanged plate member 63 for pivotal movement about an axis, defined by the rod 66, substantially parallel tothe adjacent edge 23 of the base 2. Each of the flanged plates 68 is provided with a continuous flange '70 at its outer extremity outwardly of the adjacent edge 28 of the base. The flanged plates 68 are provided with openings 72 about the handles 43 whereby the plates 68 may be tilted about their axes without interference from the handles 48. Each of the plates 68 is further provided with an extending portion 74 having a depression therein and constituting a thumb piece. A compression spring 76 (see FIG. 6) is arranged between each plate 66 and its associated flanged plate 68 on the inner side of the rod 66 whereby to normally urge the plate 63 to the full line position of FIG. 6 wherein the flange 7 0 projects forwardly of the front face of the base 2.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 may be used either with tiles having the spacing lugs 44, previously described, or with tiles having no spacing lugs thereon. Obviously, the plates 68 may be left in their forwardly projected position and the apparatus may be employed in exactly the manner described in connection with FIGS. 1 through 4. It is to be noted that rotation of the handles 43 effects lateral sliding movement of the plates 60 and the flanged plates 68 as a unit. When employing the device of FIG. 5 for setting tiles having no spacing lugs 44, the tiles are first arranged on the face of the base member 2 with suitable means therebetween to elfect the proper spacing between the tiles of the group. It is common to employ cord for this purpose. The handles 48 may then be rotated to move the flanges 70 inwardly and thus firmly grip the group of tiles. Thereafter the assembly may be placed against the mastic on the wall with the flange 70 abutting previously laid tiles and thus providing the proper spacing for the group of tiles being set. When the tiles have been moved to the proper position on the wall, the thumb pieces 74 may be pushed forwardly by the hands still holding handles 48 to withdraw flanges 70 to the dotted line position of FIG. 6 and thereafter pivotal movement of the plate 8 to withdraw the lower flange 13 will permit withdrawal of the apparatus from the group of tiles, leaving the latter adhered to the mastic and in proper spaced relation to previously set tiles.

The embodiments of the invention shown in both FIGS. 2 and 5 are further provided with latch means to facilitate operation thereof. By reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the inner portion of flanged plate 68 is provided with a slot or opening 50 therethrough adjacent the handle 48. A latch element 82 is pivotally supported on the slide plate 60 below the slot or opening 80. A tension spring 8d normally urges the latch 82 to rotate in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 6. The uppermost end of the latch 82 is provided with a head 86 having a latching shoulder 83 and a cam edge 90. When the plate 68 is pivoted about its axis es by pushing forwardly on the thumb portion 74, an end of the slot 80 engages the cam edge 90 of the latch 82 to swing the latter counterclockwise against the action of spring 84 until shoulder S8 of the latch snaps over the upper surface of plate 68 adjacent the opening 80. Thereafter, the thumb portion 74 may be released and the latch 32 thereupon holds the plate 68 in its retracted position. In this manner the plates 68 may be first manipulated to retract their flanges and when latched in retracted positions the pivoted plate 8 may be manipulated to retract its flange 18 in the manner previously described. The plate 8 is also provided with a latch like that described in connection with FIG. 6 but the latch cooperating with plate 8 must, of course, be pivoted to the base plate 2. The latch cooperating with plate 8 is indicated in FIG. 5 by the reference numeral designating the head 86 thereof. The pivoted plate 8 of FIG. 2 is likewise provided with a latch, which may be identical to that described in connection with FIG. 5. In FIG. 2 that latch is also designated by the numeral indicating the head 86 thereof.

While the illustrated embodiments suggest a base plate 2 that is perfectly square, it is to be understood that the base plate may be of any desired shape corresponding to the general outline of a group of tiles to be set thereby. Reference hereafter to a rectangular base plate is intended to include the square shape also and other equivulent shapes.

When it is desired to employ the device of the present invention with tiles of slightly different dimensions, it is only necessary to replace the slidaole plate elements 26 of FIG. 2 or the slidable assemblies of FIG. 5 with similar elements of different dimensions and the device may thus be adapted to handle tiles of different sizes.

The description herein is intended to be merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, which is not limited thereto. The invention encompasses all modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tile setting device comprising; a base plate having an uninterrupted front face adapted to support a plurality of tiles thereon, tile holding means mounted on the rear face of said base plate, said tile holding means comprising a plurality of movable structures respectively mounted near edges of said base plate which are adjacent each other each having a thin rigid flange extending outwardly of its adjacent edge of said base plate and then forwardly past said front face to engage the edges of adjacent tiles on said front face, and manually operable means on said rear face for selectively moving said structures to withdraw said flange means from holding engagement with said tiles.

2. A tile setting device as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said structures is an element pivoted on the rear face of said base plate on an axis substantially parallel to but spaced inwardly from the edge past which 6 its flange extends, and spring means urging said element about said axis in a direction to hold its flange in tileengaging position.

3. A tile setting device as defined in claim 2 wherein I said one element is provided with a manually engageable portion for retracting said flange against the action of said spring means.

4. A tile setting device as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said flanges comprises spaced ears extending past said front face of said base plate and arranged to engage the edges of adjacent tiles between laterally extending spacer lugs thereon.

5. A tile setting device as defined in claim 1 wherein a pair of said structures include plates slidably mounted on said rear face of said base plate, flanged plates pivotally mounted on said slidable plates on axes parallel to op posite side edges of said base plate and with their respective flanges etxending past said opposed side edges, each of said slidable plates being slidably mounted for movement in a direction generally parallel to said front face of said base plate and perpendicular to said opposed edges.

6. A tile setting device comprising; a base plate having a front face adapted to support a plurality of tiles thereon, tile holding means mounted on the rear face of said base plate, said tile holding means including an element slidably mounted on said rear face of said base plate for movement generally parallel to said front face and perpendicular to an adjacent edge of said base plate, flanged means pivotally mounted on said element with its flange outwardly of said edge and extending past said front face, a handle journalled on said rear face on an axis generally perpendicular to said base plate, and means interconnecting said handle and said element so that rotation of said handle effects sliding movement of said element.

7. A tile setting device comprising; a base plate having a front face adapted to support a plurality of tiles thereon, a handle and tile holding means mounted on the rear face of said base plate, said tile holding means including an element pivoted on said rear face on an axis generally parallel to an adjacent edge of said base plate, flange means on said element extending past said adjacent edge and forwardly of said front face, spring means urging said element about said axis in a direction to hold said flange in its forward position, said element having a portion thereof on the side of said axis opposite said flange and adjacent said handle whereby forward pressure on said portion retracts said flange rearwardly against the action of said spring means.

8. A tile setting device comprising; a base plate having a front face adapted to support a plurality of tiles thereon, a handle and tile holding means mounted on the rear face of said base plate, said tile holding means including an element pivotally supported on an axis generally parallel to an adjacent edge of said base plate, flange means on said element extending past said adjacent edge and forwardly of said front face, spring means urging said element about said axis in a direction to hold said flange in its forward position, said element having a portion thereof on the side of said axis opposite said flange and adjacent said handle whereby forward pressure on said portion retracts said flange rcarwardly against the action of said spring means, and a releasable spring latch engageable with said portion, when said flange is retracted, to hold said flange in retracted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent' UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,014,079 McKay et al Jan. 9, 1912 1,308,021 Allen July 1, 1919 2,040,574 Sutcliffe May 12, 1936 2,531,862 Schneider Nov. 28, 1950 2,630,702 Pizzani Mar. 10, 1953 2,652,714 Sommers Sept. 22, 1953 2,657,571 Loose Nov. 3, 1953