Abstract:
A device for measurement and marking of standard sized and shaped tiles for creation of custom tiles with a variety of shapes and sizes for placement adjacent obstructions in hard-to-fit spaces, the device comprising of an elongated rod, a triangularly shaped reference member moveably secured between a proximal and near a distal end of the rod, and an edge marking member having a variety of shapes that is rotatably secured at or near the distal end of the rod. The reference member establishes a reference position for the placement of the device in relation to other already installed tiles, and the edge marking member is used to measure and mark the shape and size of the particular custom tile for fitting adjacent or between other standard tiles and/or objects such as walls, cabinets or the like.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to measuring devices, and more particularly, to a tile measuring apparatus for use in cutting and laying appropriately sized and shaped tiles for placement adjacent obstructions in hard to fit spaces.  
           [0002]    Tiles made from various materials such as granite, marble, ceramic, and plastic are used as popular floor coverings by professionals and do-it-yourselfers. Laying pre-cut tiles that are of standard size and shape (usually square or rectangular) side-by-side and away from any obstructions is the easier part of a floor tile installation project. However, when the tile setter approaches an obstruction such as a wall, a cabinet, or a column, where a full size tile cannot be placed therein, a tile having a “custom” size and shape needs to be cut from a standard tile to fit next to the obstruction. The task of cutting a custom tile is usually difficult, time consuming, and somewhat inaccurate, even when performed by professionals. These drawbacks often mean increased labor cost, increased material cost to cover the mistakes, and less than desirable results in that the custom tile may not have the right dimensions or shape to make a seamless fit with good appearance.  
           [0003]    Accordingly, there is a need for an improved tool or device that can be used easily, accurately, quickly, inexpensively, and with a high degree of flexibility and versatility to measure and mark standard tiles that can then be cut to various appropriate sizes and shapes to provide a custom fit adjacent other tiles and/or obstructions. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention resides in a device that can be used to measure and mark standard tiles (usually shaped in square or rectangular forms) which can then be cut to create custom tiles that can have a variety of shapes and sizes for placement adjacent obstructions in hard-to-fit spaces. The device comprises of an elongated rod, a reference member moveably secured between a proximal and distal end of the rod, and an edge marking member having a variety of shapes that is rotatably secured at or near the distal end of the rod. The reference member is used for establishing a reference position for the placement of the device in relation to other already installed tiles, and the edge marking member is used to measure and mark the shape and size of the particular custom tile that must fit adjacent or between other standard tiles and/or objects such as walls, cabinets or the like that pose as obstructions.  
           [0005]    The reference member is secured to the elongated rod such that it can slide along the length of the elongated rod from its proximal end to near its distal end. The reference member is positioned along the rod such that it is further away from the distal end of the rod that the edge marking member. The reference member is triangular in shape, and depending on the particular custom tile that needs to be made, it can be turned in one of two directions (forward or backward) along the elongated rod. The function of the edge marking member is to allow the device to be positioned along one of the edges of an already installed tile, or at the intersection of two adjacent but perpendicularly installed tiles, such that a reference position for the placement of the edge marking member of the device is created. When the reference member is appropriately positioned in relation to the other already installed tiles, its position is set by use of a wing nut that tightens the reference member to the rod.  
           [0006]    The device of the invention includes several choices of differently shaped edge marking members, wherein the shapes are designed to maximize the number of shapes and angles that most commonly are encountered when the need for constructing custom tiles arises. For example, the edge marking member can have one of several shapes such as a straight edge, a triangle, a round or curved shape, and other shapes of interest are also possible. Whichever shape of an edge marking member is chosen, it is rotatably secured to the elongated rod at or near the distal end of the rod by use of another wing nut. As will be described in further detail below, the desired edge marking member is chosen and properly positioned and secured in place to match the shape, angle, and orientation of the object that is creating the obstruction. This would enable one to later place the device over a full size tile having the reference member placed along one edge or corner of the full size tile, followed by marking or scoring the tile along the edge of the marking member, and cutting the tile along the marking line to create a tile with a custom shape and size that would fit adjacent the obstruction.  
           [0007]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tile measurement device embodying the present invention, wherein the device is shown with a straight shaped edge marking member and the reference member shown in two different positions to measure and mark two differently shaped/sized custom tiles;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tile measurement device of the invention, wherein the device is shown with a triangular shaped edge marking member and the reference member shown in two different positions so as to measure and mark two differently shaped/sized custom tiles;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the tile measurement device of the invention, wherein the device is shown with a curved shaped edge marking member and the reference member, each in two different positions so as to measure and mark two differently shaped/sized custom tiles;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the device similar to that shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 4, with the reference member shown in its two possible forward and backward positions;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the device similar to that shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 6, with the reference member shown in its two possible forward and backward positions;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the device similar to one of the positions shown in FIG. 3;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 8, with the reference member shown in its two possible forward and backward positions;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the device similar to the other one of the positions shown in FIG. 3;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 10, with the reference member shown in its two possible forward and backward positions 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention is concerned with a measurement and marking device used for making custom tiles to properly fit within imperfect, odd, or non-standard shaped or sized spaces adjacent various obstructions that are commonly encountered in tile installation projects.  
         [0021]    A tile measurement device  10  is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the device is shown in its operational environment in FIG. 1, wherein a plurality of six standard sized tiles  12   a  and several custom tiles  12   b  and  12   c  that have been created using the device of the invention to fit adjacent two differently shaped obstructions  13   b  and  13   c  are shown for illustrative purposes. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the device has an elongated rod  14 , which in its preferred embodiment has a ½ inch by ½ inch square cross section and a length of approximately 20 to 30 inches. Other suitable lengths and dimensions can also be used. The rod  14  has a proximal end  16  and a distal end  18 .  
         [0022]    A reference member  20  has a hollow elongated portion  22  matching the cross-section of the elongated rod  14 , and a triangular portion  24  which is joined to the elongated portion  22  along the lower side thereof such that the triangular portion  24  is positioned below the hollow elongated portion  22 . The reference member is moveably placed along the rod  14  by sliding the hollow elongated portion  24  over the rod  14 , which will place the triangular portion  24  below the rod  14 . A threaded hole  26  is provided on the upper side of the hollow elongated portion  22  of the reference member, and a wing nut  28  is used to tighten and secure the reference member  20  at a desired position along the elongated rod  14 . The triangular portion  24  has two sides  24   a  and  24   b  that are substantially perpendicular to one another and their intersection forms a pointed tip  30  opposite of the third side  24   c . This form of the triangular portion  24  (with two sides that are at right angles to one another) can be used in situations where the tiles also have perpendicular sides such as in the case of square or rectangular tiles. Although not shown in the drawings, it should be noted that in other situations where the tiles are for example diamond shaped, the triangular portion  24  of the reference member  20  can be shaped to have two of its sides ( 24   a  and  24   b ) forming appropriate angles that are less or greater than ninety degrees so as to match the angles of the diamond shaped tiles.  
         [0023]    As shown in FIG. 5, the reference member  20  can be placed along the rod  14  in one of two orientations: a forward position with the tip  30  pointing toward the distal end  18  of the elongated rod  14 ; and a backward position where the tip  30  points toward the proximal end  16  of the rod  14 .  
         [0024]    The device includes an edge marking member  32  having a variety of desired shapes. In one alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS.  4 - 5 , the edge marking member  32  is formed of a rectangular plate  34  that is positioned below the surface of the rod  14  and rotatably secured to the distal end  18  of the rod  14  via a threaded bolt  36  inserted through a hole  38  located at or near the distal end  18  of the rod  14  and a wing nut  40  that is tightened around the bolt  36 . The thickness of the rectangular plate  34  is the same as the thickness of the triangular portion  24  of the reference member  20  such that when the edge marking member  32  is secured to the rod  14 , it is placed at the same level below the rod  14  as the triangular portion  24  of the reference member  20 .  
         [0025]    The edge marking member  32  has alternative embodiments in different shapes, three of which are shown in FIGS.  4 - 5  (straight), FIGS.  6 - 7  (triangular), and FIGS.  8 - 11  (curved). Each embodiment is used in different settings as described in the following operational descriptions of the present invention, but other alternative shapes for the edge marking member may also be utilized to match the needs of the particular tile laying project depending on the shape of the desired custom tile as dictated by the interface between various objects that pose as obstructions.  
         [0026]    In operation, with reference to the first alternative embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS.  4 - 5 , the edge marking member  32  is shaped in the form of a rectangle having an exterior straight edge  42 , which can be used to measure and mark a custom tile to fit within the space created between an already installed standard or full size tile and an obstruction such as a straight wall. As shown in the upper right corner of FIG. 1, an obstruction such as a straight wall  13   b  is shown to create a rectangular space between the obstruction  13   b  and the adjacent full size tile  12   a  (shown as the middle tile in the top row of tiles in FIG. 1), wherein the rectangular space is smaller than the dimensions of a full size tile. To accommodate this situation, in projects where tiles are set without any grout therebetween, after the full size tile  12   a  that is adjacent the obstruction is set in place, the reference member  20  is placed in a forward position with its third side  24   c  parallel to and along the outer edge of the full size tile  12   a . It is noted that in projects where grout is used between tiles, a pair of readily available plastic spacers (not shown) are temporarily placed between the third side  24   c  and the outer edge of the full size tile. As known by those skilled in the art, such plastic spacers are dimensioned and used to simulate the desired space that will be occupied by grout material that is later placed between the tiles to further secure them in place. With the reference member  20  positioned as described, the rod  14  is slidably moved through the elongated portion  22  of the reference member until the exterior straight edge  42  of the edge marking member  32  is parallel to and in contact with the edge of the obstruction  13   b . It should be noted that alternatively, the edge marking member could first be positioned against the obstruction followed by positioning the reference member along the edge of the full size tile. In other words, the order is not critical. At such time, the user makes sure that both wing nuts  28  and  40  are tightened so as to secure the relative positions of the reference member  20  and the edge marking member  32 . Thereafter, the device  10  is moved and placed on a new, yet uninstalled full size tile, and the third side  24   c  of the reference member is positioned alongside of one edge of the full size tile. Then, a marking or scoring line is drawn on the full size tile along the line where the exterior straight edge  42  of the edge marking member  32  is located. This marking or line defines where the full size tile must be cut by an appropriate tool known to those skilled in the art of laying tile, thus creating a custom tile which would nicely fit in the space between the pre-installed full tile  12   a  and the obstruction  13   b.    
         [0027]    Another application of the device with the straight edge marking member is illustrated in the lower right portion of FIG. 1. In this application, the device is used to create a custom tile having a triangular shape to fit in a space defined by a full size tile  12   a  on one side, another custom tile  12   b  on a second side, and an obstruction  13   c  on a third side. To accommodate this situation, with reference to the lower right portion of FIG. 1, the triangular shaped reference member  20  having two substantially perpendicular sides  24   a  and  24   b  is positioned along the rod  14  in its backward position such that the two sides  24   a  and  24   b  are placed in the corner at the intersection of the full tile  12   a  and the custom tile  12   b , followed by positioning the exterior straight edge  42  of the edge marking member  32  against the obstruction  13   c . If the project calls for use of grout between the tiles, as described above, plastic spacers are temporarily placed between each of the sides  24   a  and  24   b  and the two tiles  12   a  and  12   b ; otherwise, no plastic spacers are used. Thereafter, wing nuts  28  and  40  are again tightened, and the device is moved and placed over an uninstalled full size tile, the two sides  24   a  and  24   b  of the reference member are placed along the edges in one corner of the tile, and a marking or scoring line is drawn on the tile along the exterior straight edge  42  of the marking member. The tile is then cut along the marking or scoring line to create a custom tile which will fit in the space between the two tiles  12   a  and  12   b  and the obstruction  13   c.    
         [0028]    A second alternative embodiment of the device is illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIGS.  6 - 7 , wherein the edge marking member  44  is triangularly shaped. The left middle portion of FIG. 2 shows one application of this embodiment where the device is used to create a custom tile having rectangular portions of two sides of a square shaped tile removed therefrom. To accomplish this, the reference member  20  is positioned in its backward position with the two perpendicular sides  24   a  and  24   b  placed in the corner at the intersection of the two full size tiles  12   a , followed by positioning the triangular edge marking member  44  with its two substantially perpendicular sides  44   a  and  44   b  placed against the obstruction  13   d . The wing nuts  28  and  40  are then tightened, and the device is moved and placed over an uninstalled full size tile in a similar manner as described before, and the tile is marked or scored along the exterior edges  44   a  and  44   b  of the marking member  44 . Once this tile is cut along the scoring lines, it will result in a custom tile  12   d  that will fit in the space between the full size tiles  12   a  and the obstruction  13   d.    
         [0029]    In the right middle portion of FIG. 3, and with reference to FIGS.  6 - 7 , is shown another application. Here, the triangular reference member  20  is in its backward position and its third side is placed along the full size tile  12   a  and edges  44   a  and  44   b  of the triangular edge marking member  44  is positioned against the obstruction  13   e . Once the wing nuts  28  and  40  are tightened and the device is moved and placed over another uninstalled tile, it can be scored and cut to create a triangular custom tile  12   e.    
         [0030]    A third alternative embodiment of the device is illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIGS.  8 - 11 , wherein a curved edge marking member  46  is used. In the left lower portion of FIG. 3 is shown one application of this embodiment where a custom tile can be created to fit adjacent an obstruction  12   f  such as a round or circular column. The reference member  20  is again in its backward position and placed with its two perpendicular sides  24   a  and  24   b  in the corner at the intersection of the two full tiles  12   a , followed by positioning the exterior edge  46   a  of the curved marking member  46  against the obstruction  12   f . The device is then used as described before to score and then cut a custom tile  13   f  to fit adjacent the round obstruction or column  12   f.    
         [0031]    With reference to the right middle portion of FIG. 3, another application of the third alternative embodiment is shown to create a custom tile that would fit adjacent another differently shaped curved obstruction  12   g . For this application, the same curved marking member  46  is used, but it is rotated about the rod  14  such that the center of curvature of the marking member  46  is located between the marking member  46  and the reference member  20 . The process of measuring and marking a custom tile  13   g  for this application is similar to that explained in the previous paragraph and can easily be understood by reference to FIG. 3.  
         [0032]    It will be appreciated by the reader that the invention provides several advantages. The invention is simple in design, has very few parts, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, is versatile and flexible in that it can be used to create many differently shaped and sized custom tiles, and the device is used both as a tool for measuring and marking the targeted custom tiles.  
         [0033]    Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.