Abstract:
A tile spacing tool is disclosed herein that spans a gap between tile rows where the gap is sized to receive a decorative insert or the like. The spacing tool spans the gap and transfers the weight of the upper tile rows across the gap to the lower tile rows, which are supported by a floor or ledge. As a result, the entire wall can be built including the decorative insert without waiting for the bottom tile rows to dry to support the weight of the tile rows above the decorative insert.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/278,618 filed on Jan. 14, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present description relates to a tool and method for spacing and supporting tiles. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Tiles are typically placed on an adhesive such as mortar to attach the tiles to the underlying surface. Spacers are used between tiles to provide a uniform spacing between the tiles. In wall applications, the bottom tiles rest on a support surface, such as a floor or ledge. The second row of tiles rests on the bottom row of tiles via spacers that are positioned on the bottom row of tiles. The stacking of rows of tiles is repeated up to the top row of tiles such that the spacers transfer the weight of all the tile rows to the bottom row, and thus to the floor or ledge. The spacers are removed after the mortar is cured or dried sufficiently to hold the tiles in place, and the gaps between the tiles are then filled with grout. 
         [0004]    For some types of wall designs, decorative inserts are used that are not able to support the weight of additional rows of tiles above the insert, or include uneven edges or backing material that make support of the upper tile row on the decorative insert using prior art spacers impractical. For these types of designs, the wall is built up to the insert and then it is necessary to wait for the adhesive to dry or cure before installing the tile rows above the decorative insert in order to prevent these tile rows from disturbing the placement of the decorative insert. Therefore, further improvements in this area are needed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A tile spacing tool is disclosed herein that spans a gap between adjacent tile rows, where the gap is sized to receive a decorative insert or the like. The spacing tool spans the gap to contact the adjacent tile rows and transfer the weight of the upper tile rows across the gap to the lower tile rows. As a result, the entire wall can be built including the decorative insert without waiting for the adhesive used for the bottom tile rows and the decorative insert to dry to support the weight of the tile rows above the decorative insert. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, the tile spacing tool includes an elongated support rod and first and second plates extending outwardly from the support rod, at least one of which is movably secured to the support rod. At least one of the support plates can be rotated and threaded along the support rod to adjust the spacing between the plates to correspond to the size of the gap between the tile rows that receives the decorative insert. In one embodiment, at least the movable plate is circular in shape so its rotational position or orientation relative to the support rod is irrelevant, and the spacing between the plates is infinitely adjustable by rotating and threadingly displacing one or both of the plates along the rod. In another embodiment, each of the first and second plates is circular in shape and threadingly engaged to the support rod so that each plate can be rotated to infinitely adjust the spacing between the plates to define a distance between the plates that corresponds to a size of the gap between two tile rows that receive the decorative insert therebetween. 
         [0007]    This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the illustrative embodiments. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the following description and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The invention may best be understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings that are used to illustrate embodiments of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of one embodiment of a tile spacing tool employed to space and support adjacent tile rows to receive a decorative insert between the tile rows. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the tile spacing tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of adjacent tile rows supported by a plurality of tile spacing tools of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a plate of the tile spacing tool of  FIG. 1  along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the tile spacing tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the tile spacing tool of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates are contemplated herein. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a tile spacing tool  10  that spans a gap  50  to support an upper tile row  52  on a lower tile row  54 . Gap  50  is sized to receive an insert  56  such as a decorative tile insert, a mosaic, or other insert that can be used in a tile wall. Tile spacing tool  10 , shown also in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , includes an elongated support rod  12 , a first or upper plate  14 , and a second or lower plate  16 . Elongated support rod  12  includes a length L 1  extending along a longitudinal axis  18  between a first end  18   a  and an opposite second end  18   b.  Upper and lower plates  14 ,  16  are mounted to support rod  12 , and at least one of the plates  14 ,  16  is longitudinally movable along longitudinal axis  18  and length L 1  of support rod  12  to adjust a spacing L 2  between upper and lower plates  14 ,  16  to correspond to the size of gap  50 . 
         [0017]    Upper tile row  52  and lower tile row  54  are mounted to a support surface  58  such as a wall with an adhesive  60 . Adhesive  60  is also used to secure insert  56  to support surface  58  between tile rows  52 ,  54 . The tile rows  52 ,  54  are supported on an adjacent face of the respective upper plate  14  and lower plate  16 , respectively. The upper and lower plates  14 ,  16  project radially outwardly from support rod  12  the same distance so that the outer edge  22 ,  24  of the respective upper and lower plate  14 ,  16  will contact the same vertical wall support surface with support rod  12  parallel to the vertical wall support surface. 
         [0018]    Referring further to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , each plate  14 ,  16  extends to a respective outer edge  22 ,  24  that defines a perimeter that is circular in shape. Each plate  14 ,  16  further includes a planar inner surface  25 ,  27 , respectively, that face one another and that each define a plane that is orthogonal to longitudinal axis  18 . Each plate  14 ,  16  includes a dome-shaped center hub  26 ,  28 , respectively, on its center axis (axis of rotation) which is aligned with longitudinal axis  18 . Center hubs  26 ,  28  project axially from a respective outer surface  29 ,  31  of plates  14 ,  16 , opposite of the respective planar inner surface  25 ,  27 . An internally threaded bushing  30 ,  32  is provided within a respective through-hole  33 ,  35  through the respective center hub  26 ,  28 , and through-holes  33 ,  35  are centered around longitudinal axis  18 . Support rod  12  also includes a circular cross-section orthogonal to longitudinal axis  18 , and an outer thread profile that threadingly engages the respective internally threaded bushing  30 ,  32 . 
         [0019]    Each of the plates  14 ,  16  is threadingly engaged to support rod  12  and can be rotated to longitudinally displace the respective plate  14 ,  16  along support rod  12  and adjust the spacing L 2  in an infinitely variable manner so that the gap  50  can be any size less than L 1  or greater than a thickness between outer surfaces  29 ,  31  when inner surfaces  25 ,  27  are positioned in contact with one another . Furthermore, since at least one of the movable plate or plates  14 ,  16  has a circular outer perimeter, the plate(s)  14 ,  16  can be stopped at any rotational position along support rod  12  and used to support the tile rows since any location on outer edge(s)  22 ,  24  can be used to support an adjacent tile row  52 ,  54 . 
         [0020]    In another embodiment, only one of plates  14 ,  16  is longitudinally movable along support rod  12 . In still another embodiment, only one of plates  14 ,  16  is circular while the other plate  14 ,  16  is non-circular, and the non-circular plate is fixed or is fixable in longitudinal position relative to support rod  12 . In any of the embodiments, support rod  12  and/or bushings  30 ,  32  can be made from a metal or other rigid, stiff material, although non-metal material could also be used. Plates  14 ,  16  can be made from plastic or other material that can be cleaned to remove adhesive or other materials therefrom, although non-plastic materials can be used. In another embodiment, a scale or other measurement tool can be provided along support rod  12  to measure the space L 2 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , upper tile row  52  and lower tile row  54  are shown with gap  50  therebetween. More upper tile rows and/or lower tile rows may be used. A plurality of tile spacing tools  10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″, etc. are used to support upper tile row  52  on lower tile row  54 . Lower tile row  54  sits on a floor or ledge  62 . An insert  56  will have a particular height when placed on a wall. The tile spacing tool(s)  10  can be set with plates  14 ,  16  at spacing L 2  corresponding to that height to maintain an appropriately sized gap between the tile rows to receive the insert. Insert  56  can be any type of decorative insert or setting which fits into the gap  50  between the tile rows. 
         [0022]    The tile spacing tools  10  are adjusted to accommodate the width or height of the insert  56  and then placed so that the bottom or outer face  31  of bottom plate  16  rests against the upper edge of a corresponding tile of the bottom tile row  54 . The upper tile row  52  is above the upper plate  14  of tile spacing tool  10 . The upper tile row  52  is placed against the adhesive on the wall and rests on top of a top our outer face  29  of the upper plate  14 . The tile spacing tools  10 ,  10 ″, etc. may be added after the tiles and the insert  56  have been pressed into the adhesive. The tile spacing tools  10  may then be used to define and maintain a specific spacing between the adjacent tile rows  52 ,  54 . The tiles in the tile rows and the insert may be adjusted in position on the wall while the adhesive is wet. Using the tile spacing tool  10 , all of the tiling can all be placed up the wall from the bottom-most row to the top-most row at one time with the inserts positions as desired. After the mortar has dried, all of the spacers and tile spacing tools may be removed, and then the tiles may be grouted. This allows the entire wall installation to be installed more quickly than waiting for the lower tile rows and decorative inserts to cure before placing the upper tile rows. The insert  56  may be installed before or after the tile spacing tool(s) is placed on the wall. The insert  56  may be installed before or after the adhesive for the upper and lower tile rows has set. 
         [0023]    Various aspects of the present disclosure are contemplated. For example, a tile spacing tool is disclosed that includes an elongated threaded support rod extending between a first end and an opposite second end, and a first plate mounted toward the first end of the support rod and a second plate mounted toward the second end of the support rod. At least one of the first and second plates is circular in shape and threadingly engaged to the support rod and threadingly adjustable along the support rod to adjust a spacing between the first and second plates to correspond to a size of a gap between adjacent tile rows spaced to receive a decorative insert therebetween. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, each of the first and second plates is circular in shape. In a refinement of this embodiment, the elongated threaded support rod extends along a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends, and each of the first and second plates defines a respective plane that is orthogonally oriented to the longitudinal axis. In a further refinement of this embodiment, the circular shape of each of the first and second plates lies in the respective plane. In another refinement, each of the first and second plates is threadingly engaged to the support rod and threadingly adjustable along the support rod. 
         [0025]    In additional refinements of the disclosed embodiments, each of the first and second plates defines a through-hole on its center axis and each of the first and second plates includes an internally threaded bushing in the through-hole that is threadingly engaged to the support rod. In another refinement, each of the first and second plates includes a hub extending along the center axis and each bushing is positioned within a respective one of the hubs. In yet another refinement, each of the first and second plates is made of plastic material and the support rod and each bushing are made of metal material. 
         [0026]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a tile spacing tool includes an elongated threaded support rod extending between a first end and an opposite second end, and a first plate mounted toward the first end of the support rod and a second plate mounted toward the second end of the support rod. Each of the first and second plates is threadingly engaged to the support rod and threadingly adjustable along the support rod to adjust a spacing between the first and second plates to correspond to a size of a gap between adjacent tile rows spaced to receive a decorative insert therebetween. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, each of the first and second plates includes an outer perimeter that defines a circular shape. In another embodiment, the elongated threaded support rod extends along a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends, and each of the first and second plates defines a respective plane that is orthogonally oriented to the longitudinal axis. 
         [0028]    In another embodiment, each of the first and second plates defines a through-hole on its center axis and each of the first and second plates includes an internally threaded bushing in the through-hole that is threadingly engaged to the support rod. In a refinement of this embodiment, each of the first and second plates includes a hub extending along the center axis and each bushing is positioned within a respective one of the hubs. 
         [0029]    According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method includes placing at least one lower row of tiles against an adhesive on a surface; placing at least one upper row of tiles against the adhesive on the surface with the upper row of tiles spaced from an uppermost edge of the at least one lower row of tiles by a gap sized to accommodate an insert between the uppermost edge and a lowermost edge of the at least one upper row of tiles; adjusting a height of a plurality of tile spacing tools so that a distance between an upper plate and a lower plate of the spacing tool correspond in size to the gap, where adjusting the height includes rotating at least one of the upper and lower plates to displace it longitudinally along a support rod; placing the tile spacing tools so the lowermost edge of the at least one upper row of tiles is supported by the upper plate and the lower plate is supported on the uppermost edge of the lower row of tiles; and placing the insert in the gap against the adhesive on the surface while the upper row of tiles is supported by the at least one lower row of tiles while the adhesive cures. 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, the method includes removing the tile spacing tools after the adhesive cures. In another embodiment, at least one of the upper and lower plates is circular in shape and infinitely adjustable in position along the support member. In yet another embodiment, each of the upper and lower plates is circular in shape and infinitely adjustable in position along the support member. 
         [0031]    In another embodiment, at least one of the upper and lower plates is threadingly engaged to the support rod. In a refinement of this embodiment, each of the upper and lower plates is threadingly engaged to the support rod. In a further refinement, each of the first and second plates is circular in shape. 
         [0032]    While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only certain exemplary embodiments have been shown and described. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many modifications are possible in the example embodiments without materially departing from this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims. 
         [0033]    In reading the claims, it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” or “at least one portion” are used there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.