Abstract:
A tile spacing device comprises a U-shaped handle, a pair of washers affixed to both open ends of the handle; and a gap-creating spacer bar extending between the open handle ends beneath the pair of washers. A method of using this device for improving spacing consistency between horizontally-installed tiles is also disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a device for setting decorative tiles with uniform grout lines and joints. More particularly, it relates to a tile spacer for efficiently setting a plurality of large decorative floor tiles a uniform, consistent width from adjacent tiles. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Anyone who has ever installed tile products understands the aggravation with adjusting tiles, especially floor tiles, during installation, to maintain uniform grout lines and joints. The spacing between each piece allows for the eventual placement of grout there between. Known plastic spacers can be set to aid in this process, but they must be moved individually when the next piece is to be installed. This causes an installer to juggle tiles and spacers leading to frustration, lost spacers, broken tile and irretrievable time. While these problems are difficult for the professional tile setter, they pose almost insurmountable problems for the do-it-yourself homeowner. 
     There remains a long felt need for a simple, lightweight device that takes little storage space when not in use, is highly reusable, easy to manipulate and otherwise overcomes known problems for establishing consistent spacing when setting floor tiles. The development of the present apparatus fulfills this need to assist in the placement of decorative tiles while maintaining uniform grout lines between. 
     The following references are deemed noteworthy: Claxton U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,049 showed an adjustable tile apparatus with X, T or L-shaped bottom spacers. A ceramic tile spacing gauge and tile holder is the subject of Smith U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,783, Armstrong U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,490 and Fortin U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,723. Bovino et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,455 discloses a tile-squaring device having a distance rod, angle head and squaring means for connecting the angle head to the distance rod at a right angle to the rod. Kingston et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,309 describes an adjustable template for positioning tiles of various sizes and Schell U.S. Pat. No. 2,642,674 discloses an implement for laying square tile using a generally rectangular plate with a pair of spaced apart straight edges. 
     Consequently, a need exists for providing a device that assists with setting floor tiles (from about 4 to 24 inches wide) with ease and consistency for subsequent grouting there between. The device/apparatus should be made available in a variety of “sizes” or gap thicknesses. Alternately, one handle for this device/apparatus can be fitted with multiple size/shape gap spacers through easy connects/disconnects. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a tile spacing device that aids in setting decorative floor or wall tile and provides for fast, perfect spacing between tiles. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for keeping grout lines consistent and establishes a consistent tile pattern. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a device for use with most types of small to large floor tile material. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a device that can be adjusted in width dimensions to suit various tile gap sizes. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide mounted spacers for use above a tile surface for providing actual grout line spacing. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide spacers available in ¼ inch, to 1 inch varieties, and to have an easy means for switching between desired sizes. 
     Briefly, the present invention shows an adjustable spacing device for setting tiles in a consistent distance apart from one another for achieving grout joints of uniform width. The invention comprises a U-shaped main frame handle, a pair of washers extending downwardly therefrom and a bottom spacer rod/bar fastened thereto. This adjustment allows the invention to work with most sizes of tile work. The spacer bars would be available in ¼ inch, and in ⅛ inch increments above that, up to one inch wide total. That variety of tools will accommodate various sized grout line widths. A pair of such devices is simply moved along as each tile is set and provides perfect spacing for the next tile to be set. The invention can be used with ceramic tile, clay tile, marble, slate, or virtually any material that is set with spacing for grout lines. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings and photographs in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front plan view of one embodiment of adjustable tile spacing apparatus according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a photograph showing a pair of  FIG. 1  spacers tilted onto their sides; 
         FIG. 3  is a photograph showing the pair from  FIG. 2  as used to space adjacent floor tiles according to this invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side sectional view showing use of the  FIG. 1  spaced between floor tiles T 1  and T 2 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a side sectional view of a first alternative spacer that uses a flat-bar shape with rounded edges for making wider tile gaps. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The main purpose behind this device, nicknamed the “Kelly Gauge”, is to provide consumers (either professional tile installers or do-it-yourselfers) with a tool that facilitates the process for maintaining accurate spacing between adjacent tiles during their initial installation (i.e., as they are first positioned on the setting mortar). This is a known time-consuming task made longer when expending a great deal of effort calculating tile spacing AND placement to avoid uneven relative positioning. 
     This device replaces the use of small plastic spacer crosses and the like. Workers using those means are often forced to recheck their gapping measurements as smaller spacers are prone to shifting. 
     The present device, by contrast, is an ingenious, practical and useful (yet simple) tool for gauging grout spacing between tiles quickly and easily. As seen in accompanying  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one embodiment of tile spacer device  10  that includes a main frame, in this case consisting of a 6¾″ in. by 2″ U-shaped rod/clamp or handle  12 . At the opposed “open” ends to that handle  12 , there are incorporated a pair of wide washers  14 ,  16  located at or near the distal point/ends E of handle  12 . These washers provide the tool user/consumer with a FIXED distance for measuring tile grout lines. Washers  14 ,  16  may be welded to the handle  12  or otherwise affixed. In alternate embodiments (not shown), washers and handle may be constructed as a one piece, intergral unit. 
     Extending down from below handle  12  and beneath washers  14 ,  16 , there is a gap making, spacer bar  18 . Straight in length, bar  18  extends beyond the handle and washers the whole distance between handle ends. In an alternate variation (not shown), that single spacer bar COULD BE replaced with two shorter bars so long as the line between bar sections is maintained a set linear path (i.e., on exactly the same linear plane. 
     Easy to use, tile spacer  10  is simply inserted between adjacent tiles T 1 , T 2  and T 3  on a mortar surface and the next tile placed and adjusted to abut each spacer bar  18  as better seen in accompanying  FIG. 3 . Using this tool, both the professional tile installer and home do-it-yourselfers can achieve and ensure a uniformed tile gap/appearance. 
     This invention is an essential tool (that takes up very little space when not in use) for construction workers and for the everyday handyman. It is expected that a uniformly sized spacer device would be sold in pairs for use consistent with the installation depicted in  FIG. 3 . Consumers may prefer buying only one pair of spacers, or Kelly gauges, in a first grout making size (between ¼″ to 1″ wide, in ⅛ in. increments). A full set might include one pair in each size. 
     For the most common size device, spacer bar  18  is rounded in cross section, between adjacent tiles T 1  and T 2  as best seen axially in accompanying  FIG. 4 . For the wider variations, an alternate spacer bar may appear flatter, than their smaller, thinner, round counterpart. In the alternative device depicted in accompanying  FIG. 5 , common elements are commonly numbered though in the next hundred series. Accordingly, device  110 , with its handle  112  has a spacer bar  118  that is generally rectangular but with certain edges rounded for better fitting (going in) between adjacent tiles T 1  and T 2  for: setting their fixed tile gap and for allowing some space for welding to the right side washer  116  directly above in this particular axial view. 
     It is believed that the Kelly gauge described herein is unique. Preferably made from a durable stainless steel, aluminum and/or carbon steel material, the main frame and spacer bar(s) afford the consumer means for securely, yet accurately measuring grout lines. Alternately, it may be made from a strong, wear resilient plastic/composite. 
     It is envisioned that the present invention may be used with most any flooring material such as ceramic, marble, clay, and slate which is set with spacing for grout lines. For user comfort, padding and/or rubberized handles may be incorporated therein. 
     Operation of Preferred Embodiments 
     For the present invention, a user would choose the desired pair of Kelly gauges from his/her set of device pairs. Then, the user would situate a first tool in a first direction and a second tool perpendicular to the adjoining tile side before placing the next tile to be installed immediately adjacent to (or abutting) the two situated tools. Once that tile is firmly in place, the handles of the respective tools can be lifted out of that tile pair for resituating the next floor tile with the same. Using these device pairs, repeatedly, the user achieves a consistent pattern with perfect spacing relative to one another so as to obtain grout joints of uniform width. An experienced tile setter may utilize multiple sets/pairs of Kelly gauges to increase productivity. 
     Therefore, the foregoing description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiment and not meant to limit the scope of the invention. One skilled in the art may incorporate minor modifications that are anticipated by this disclosure.