WO1997016612A1

WO1997016612A1 - Tile trim

Info

Publication number: WO1997016612A1
Application number: PCT/GB1996/002686
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seamus Michael Devlin
Original assignee: Seamus Michael Devlin
Priority date: 1995-11-02
Filing date: 1996-11-01
Publication date: 1997-05-09
Also published as: AU7323196A; GB9522496D0

Abstract

A tile trim (22) comprises an elongated extrusion of regular cross section having a fixture strip (24) and a curved fillet (23), the curved fillet being manually deformable towards the fixture strip, and holding means for adjustably holding the fixture strip and the curved fillet in selected relative positions to suit the thickness of the tiles being edged by the tile trim. When the tile trim is fixed in position with the tiles laid over the fixture strip, the curved fillet can be depressed to a position flush with the tiles and held there. The holding means can comprise two flanges (25, 26) integral respectively with the fixture strip and the curved fillet. The flanges extend towards each other and have complementary inter-engaging formations (251, 261) able to hold the portion of the curved fillet furthest from the fixture strip to a dimension to suit the thickness of the tiles being edged.

Description

TILE TRIM

The present invention relates to a tile trim, that is to say an elongate member used at the edge of ceramic tiles secured to a surface in a building so as to form an edge to the tiles.

Tile trims are well known and are available in a variety of cross-sectional shapes. Generally these have in common that they incorporate a fixture strip which extends underneath the tiles, and with which the the trim is fixed in place, and a curved outer fillet connected to the fixture strip for edging the tiles.

A difficulty with tile trims is that tiles have a variety of thicknesses. Thus for thin tiles, they must be packed out from the fixture strip, with extra cement; and for thick tiles there is a risk of the tiles' exposed surfaces standing proud of the fillet of the trim.

The object of my invention is to provide an adjustable trim, able to be adjusted to the thickness of the tiles being edged.

According to my invention, a tile trim comprises an elongated extrusion of regular cross-section having a fixture strip and a curved fillet, the curved fillet being manually deformable towards the fixture strip, and holding means for adjustably holding the fixture strip and the curved fillet in selected relative positions to suit the thickness of the tiles being edged by the tile trim, whereby, when the tile trim is fixed with tiles laid over the fixture strip, the curved fillet can be depressed to a position flush with the tiles and held there. According to a preferred embodiment of my invention, the holding means comprises two flanges integral respectively with the fixture strip and the curved fillet. The flanges extend towards each other and have complementary inter-engaging formations able to hold the portion of the curved fillet furthest from the fixture strip to a dimension to suit the thickness of the tiles being edged.

I envisage that the flanges and their formations may take various different forms. In particular the formation integral with the strip may extend at least substantially perpendicularly from it. This is appropriate when the complementary flange extendε from the edge of the fillet overlying the strip. Alternatively, the fillet's flange may extend from a position spaced from its edge at an oblique angle towards the strip's similarly angled flange.

I envisage that one of the formations may have a single longitudinal tooth formation. However both of the flanges will normally have a plurality of longitudinal tooth formations.

The inter-engageable formations may be on either side of their flanges. To assist retention of engagement of the formations, one of the strip and the fillet may be provided with an additional flange for captivating the flange of the other between itself and the flange having the tooth formations.

Where the tile trim is to be used at a corner between two tiled surfaces, the back of the fixture strip may be plain. Alternatively, it can be provided with a detachable guide for positioning the trim in accordance with a common tile thickness. In a further alternative, I can envisage the trim being provided with duplicated adjustability in accordance with my invention.

To help understanding of my invention, various specific embodiments will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a broken away, perspective view of tiles on a wall, edged with a tile trim.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a tile trim of the invention in use, Figure 3 is a similar view of the tile trim set to maximum height, before adjustment of its height.

Figure 4 is a similar view of the tile trim before inter-engagement of its formations.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a second tile trim according to the invention, in its fully depressed state.

Figure 6 is a similar view of the tile trim of Figure 6 in its open, as moulded εtate.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a third tile trim of the invention, and

Figure 8 is a similar view of a fourth tile trim of the invention.

Referring first to Figure 1, tiles 1 are edged by a trim 2. This has a curved fillet 3, which is the visible portion of the trim, and which forms a neat finish to edge ones 11 of the tiles. The trim has a fixture strip 4, which is set beneath the edges of the edge tiles. The trim is fixed in position by the same cement which fixes the tiles to the wall 5. The trim 2 is of extrusion moulded plastics material, although it could be of a metal extrusion.

Referring now to Figures 2, 3 & 4, the tile trim 22 of the invention thereshown has a fixture strip 24 and a curved fillet 23, which perform the same general function as those of the conventional trim 2. The trim includes a pair of flanges 25,26, which extend towards each other from the strip and the fillet and in use lie against each other with tooth formations 251,261 inter-engaging. The flange 25 extends generally perpendicularly from the fixture strip 24, whilst the flange 26 extends towards the fixture strip from the edge 27 of the fillet over-lying the fixture strip. The flanges are arranged with the fillet flange 26 on the tile side of the fixture-strip flange 25, with the tooth formations 261,251 between them. The fillet 23 and the fixture strip 24 are integrally connected at the corner 28 between them. Between the corner 28 and the edge 27, the fillet is resiliently deformable.

As extruded, see Figure 4, the flanges 25,26 are separate from each other. For use, the fillet is deformed to bring the flanges into engagement with each other, see Figure 3.

In use, the trim iε fixed to a wall - or other building surface - either simply with tiling cement 29, or possibly by tacking through the fixture strip. Tiles are laid over the strip and and butted up againεt flange 26, at the fillet edge 27. The fillet can then be depressed to bring it flush with the surface of the tiles, with the teeth 251,261 sliding over each other and engaging in the manner of a ratchet to hold the fillet against its resilience in the desired position.

Normally, at least over a significant length of the tile trim, the free end of the flange 26 will come to bed in the tiling cement, whereby once the cement has set, the flange and the fillet cannot be further depressed. Additionally, on application of grout 30, the space between the tile 11 and the flange 25 will become filled with grout. Since the edge 27 of the fillet overhangs the flange 26, the grout also will support the fillet against further depression towards the fixture strip 24 and the wall 5. The edge 27 is preferably curved so that a smooth transition from tile to trim via the intervening grout is felt.

It will be noted from Figure 3, that when the trim is engaged in its position of maximum thickness, not only is the fillet bent to a different extent to that of the Figure 2 state, but the flanges themselves may be bent.

Turning now to Figures 5 & 6, the trim thereshown has its fillet 123 and fixture strip 124 similarly configured to those of the tile trim of Figures 2,3 & 4. However its flanges 125,126 are angled, with the fixture strip flange 125 extending into the curvature of the fillet and the fillet flange 126 extending from a position spaced from the edge 127 of the fillet. Additionally, the foot of the fillet flange 126 has a nose 1262 in addition to the edge 127 for abutment of a tile. Further, the fillet is provided with an extra flange 1255 between which and the fillet flange 126 the fixture-strip flange 125 is captivated. This assists in the secure holding of the fillet in its desired position after depresεion to bring the fillet flush with an edged tile.

Turning on to Figure 7, a εimplified tile trim thereshown has its fixture-strip flange 225 provided with teeth formations 2251 facing inwards. A single toothed flange 226 extends from the fillet.

The final Figure 8 shows an adaption of the first tile trim for use at a corner between two wall surfaces where tiles are cemented. The trim has two fixture strips 324 set at right angles, with a member 340 extending outwards from the corner between the strips to the fillet 323. At each edge of thiε, it has toothed flanges 326 engaging with respective flanges 325 extending from the strips 324. The trim is thus able to be adjusted to the thickness of the tiles on the two walls.

Claims

1. A tile trim comprising an elongate extrusion of regular cross-section having a fixture strip and a curved fillet, the curved fillet being manually deformable towards the fixture strip, and holding means for adjustably holding the fixture strip and the curved fillet in selected relative positions to suit the thickness of the tiles being edged by the tile trim, whereby, when the tile trim is fixed with the tiles laid over the fixture strip, the curved fillet can be depressed to a position flush with the tiles and held there.

2. A tile trim as claimed in Claim 1 in which said holding means compriseε two flangeε integral reεpectively with εaid fixture εtrip and with said curved fillet, said flanges extending towards each other and having complementary inter-engageable formations able to hold the portion of the fillet furthest from the fixture strip to a dimension to suit the thickness of the tiles being edged.

3. A tile trim as claimed in Claim 2 in which each of said flanges extends continuously along the associated fixture strip or curved fillet.

4. A tile trim as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which the flange integral with the fixture strip extends substantially perpendicular from said fixture strip.

5. A tile trim as claimed in Claim 4 in which the flange integral with said curved fillet extends from the edge of said curved fillet.

6. A tile trim as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which the flange integral with said fixture strip extends at an angle from said fixture strip.

7. A tile trim as claimed in Claim 6 in which the flange integral with said curved fillet extends from a position spaced from the edge of said fillet at an angle towards the flange integral with said fixture strip.

8. A tile trim as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 7 in which one of said formations comprises a single tooth extending longitudinally along the associated flange and the other formation comprises a plurality of teeth extending longitudinallly along the associated flange.

9. A tile trim as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 7 in which each of said formations comprises a plurality of teeth extending longitudinally along the associated flange.

10. A tile trim as claimed in Claim 9 in which said holding means comprises an additional flange member extending substantially parallel to and spaced from one of the flanges and adapted to engage with the other flange.

11. A tile trim as claimed in Claim 1 in which said elongated extrusion has an additional fixture strip extending substantially at an an angle to the first fixture strip and said curved fillet is manually deformable towards both of the fixture strips, and comprising holding means for adjustably holding the fixture strips and the curved fillet in selected relative positions to suit the thickness of the tiles being edged by the tile trim, whereby, when the tile trim is fixed with the two sets of tiles extending in planes at an angle and laid respectively over the fixture strips, the curved fillet can be depressed to a position flush with each set of tiles and held there .

12. A tile trim as claimed in Claim 11 in which said additional fixture strip extends at right angles to the first fixture strip.

13. A tile trim as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12 in which said holding means comprises two sets of pairs of flanges, the pairs of flanges of each set being integral respectively with one of said fixture strips and with said curved fillet, the flanges of each pair extending towards each other and having complementary inter-engageable formations able to hold the portions of the curved fillet furthest from the fixture strips to dimensions to suit the thicknesses of the sets of tiles being edged.

14. A tile trim as claimed in Claim 13 in which each flange extends longitudinally along the asεociated fixture strip or curved fillet.