ADJUSTABLE WINDOW SUPPORT

An illustrated view of an exemplary adjustable window support for supporting tile around a window opening is presented. The adjustable window support is useful for preventing the laid tile from moving and thus causing the window opening from being level. Further, the adjustable window support is useful for applying pressure to the laid tile and thus providing a more secure coupling with a wall.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to windows. More particularly, it relates to a support for adjusting windows.

BACKGROUND

The use of facing materials, such as, ceramic tiles are well known to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance as well as durability and wear resistance. The following description will be directed to ceramic tiles for convenience although it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other facing materials such as stone flooring, granite, slate, plastics, and the like, may be employed with the support plate of the invention.

In general, ceramic tile is installed over a substrate such as a wooden floor using a mortar to set the tile. Unfortunately, because of the differences in properties between the substrate, mortar, and ceramic tile, stresses formed during such installation often result in damage in the form of cracks or delamination. Previously, most ceramic tile installations utilized mud setting beds, wherein a mixture of sand and cement was applied over the floor or other substrate and the ceramic tile set in the mud. The mud beds were generally in the range of about 1 and ½-inch-thick.

Modern ceramic tile installations now often use thin layer processes, which require use of thin-set mortar systems wherein the thickness of the thin-set mortar is about ½ inch thick. Flooring systems of this type are generally less costly, lighter, and more easily coordinated with installations of ceramic tile and stone.

Because of the thinness of the installation however, stresses at the interface between the mortar, substrate, and ceramic tile are much greater than in the case of a thin bed installation and it has been found that these stresses cause cracking of the tile and/or delamination of the tile of the floor. In an effort to decrease the stress differences and the problems of tile cracking and delamination, support plates or otherwise known as decoupling or uncoupling plates/mats have been developed. Currently available support plates are used between the substrate and the ceramic or stone tile to provide a base for the tile, as well as to decrease or eliminate the stresses in the installation.

While supports brackets for supporting tiles is currently available in the marketplace, the current support brackets leave a lot to be desired. These support brackets are one size which depending on an opening of a window is not desirable as they may be too tall, too small, or not of a sufficient width to properly support tiles being installed or that have been installed.

Accordingly, in light of the foregoing, there exists a need for a device which can be adjustable and reusable when applying tile or other material around an opening of a window. The device further needs to be able to place pressure against the tiles to prevent the window opening from becoming unlevel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The phrases “in one embodiment,” “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” and the like are used repeatedly. Such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “having,” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise. Such terms do not generally signify a closed list.

Referring toFIG. 1AandFIG. 1B, is an illustrated view of an exemplary adjustable window support100for supporting tile around a window opening is presented. The adjustable window support100is useful for preventing the laid tile from moving and thus causing the window opening from being unlevel. Further, the adjustable window support100is useful for applying pressure to the laid tile and thus providing a more secure coupling with a wall.

The adjustable window support100may be used in a singular adjustable window support or multiple adjustable window supports100may be used simultaneously dependent on the size of a window opening (as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3).

The adjustable window support100has a first spline110, a second spline120, one or more support brackets200and a plurality of fasteners130.

The first spline110is preferably made of a wood material, however other types of materials are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, steel, aluminum, plastic, etc. The first spline110is preferably three (3) feet in length, however other lengths are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, two (2) feet, four (4) feet, etc. The fasteners130are preferably a screw, however other types of fasteners are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro® type fasteners, two-sided tape, etc.

The first spline110has one or more first slot channels111. The one or more first slot channels111of the first spline110are preferably in a middle portion112of the first spline110. One or more of the fasteners130are placed through each of the first slot channels111such that the one spline110is securely coupled to one or more of the support brackets200. The first slot channels111allow for the first spline110to be move in an upward and downward position to fit the size of a window opening.

The second spline120is preferably made of a wood material, however other types of materials are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, steel, aluminum, plastic, etc. The second spline120is preferably three (3) feet in length, however other lengths are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, two (2) feet, four (4) feet, etc. The second spline120is preferably made of the same material as the first spline110, however it is hereby contemplated that the second spline120is made of a different material than the first spline110.

The second spline120has one or more second slot channels121. The one or more second slot channels121of the second spline120are preferably in a middle portion122of the second spline120. One or more of the fasteners130are placed through each of the second slot channels121such that the second spline120is securely coupled to one or more of the support brackets200. The second slot channels121allow for the second spline120to be move in an upward and downward position to fit the size of a window opening.

The support brackets200are preferably two (2) in number, however other number of support brackets200are hereby contemplated, including, one (1), three (3), etc. As shown inFIG. 1B, each of the support brackets200have a lower portion201and a raised portion202.

The first spline110and the second spline120are coupled to the support brackets200such that the support brackets200are securely against the window opening.

The lower portion201is configured to couple securely against a bottom of one or more tiles (shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3) to prevent the tiles from sliding such that the window opening's levelness is not compromised.

The raised portion202is configured to couple to a back portion of the tiles such that the support brackets100maintain a desired and predetermined position. A bottom205of the raised portion202is coupled to a first end203of the lower portion201. A second end204receives at least one of the fasteners130secured through the first spline110or the second spline120. Therefore, the tiles can't move when the fasteners130are tightened. Prior to the fasteners130being tightened, the support brackets200can be moved upward or downward, and/or right and left to allow the support brackets200to be coupled securely to the tiles.

Moving now toFIG. 2, an illustrated view of a first window opening300with the adjustable window support100shown inFIG. 1Ais presented.

The window opening300has a frame301, a wall302and a plurality of tiles303. The tiles303are coupled to the wall302by a fastening agent such as glue, mortar, etc. The wall302surrounds the frame301of the window opening300. The window opening300may be any size.

The adjustable window support100is coupled to the window opening300by the first spline110being securely coupled to a first of the support brackets200and a second of the support brackets200by fasteners130. The second spline120being securely coupled to a first of the support brackets200and a second of the support brackets200by fasteners130.

The first of the support brackets200is moved in an upward direction and once the first of the support brackets is securely embracing the tile303of the wall302at a top304of the frame301, the fasteners130are tightened to prevent slippage of the first of the support brackets200.

Next, the second of the support brackets200is moved in a downward direction and once the second of the support brackets is securely embracing the tile303of the wall302at a bottom305of the frame301, the fasteners130are tightened to prevent slippage of the second of the support brackets200.

Referring now toFIG. 3, an illustrated view of a second window opening400with two of the adjustable window supports100,100′ shown inFIG. 1Ais presented.

The window opening400has a frame401, a wall402and a plurality of tiles403. The tiles403are coupled to the wall402by a fastening agent such as glue, mortar, etc. The wall402surrounds the frame401of the window opening400. The window opening400may be any size.

The adjustable window supports100,100′ is coupled to the window opening400by the first spline110,110′ being securely coupled to a first of the support brackets200,200′ and a second of the support brackets200,200′ by fasteners130. The second spline120,120′ being securely coupled to a first of the support brackets200,200′ and a second of the support brackets200,200′ by fasteners130.

The first of the support brackets200,200′ is moved in an upward direction and once the first of the support brackets200,200′ are securely embracing the tile403of the wall402at a top404of the frame401, the fasteners130are tightened to prevent slippage of the first of the support brackets200,200′.

Next, the second of the support brackets200,200′ is moved in a downward direction and once the second of the support brackets200,200′ are securely embracing the tile403of the wall402at a bottom405of the frame401, the fasteners130are tightened to prevent slippage of the second of the support brackets200,200′.

In the numbered clauses below, specific combinations of aspects and embodiments are articulated in a shorthand form such that (1) according to respective embodiments, for each instance in which a “component” or other such identifiers appear to be introduced (with “a” or “an,” e.g.) more than once in a given chain of clauses, such designations may either identify the same entity or distinct entities; and (2) what might be called “dependent” clauses below may or may not incorporate, in respective embodiments, the features of “independent” clauses to which they refer or other features described above.

The features described with respect to one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments or combined with or interchanged with the features of other embodiments, as appropriate, without departing from the scope of the present invention.