TILE MARKING APPLIANCE

Abstract: A method of marking a ceramic tile for cutting, and an appliance for use in performing the method, consists in a plastics extrusion (10, 13) of L-shape cross-section of which one leg (10) defines bevelled and rubber-lined straight-edges (11). The body is provided with a convenient handle (14). The leg (10) serves to locate the body against the edge of a fixed tile, and the other leg (13) provides a means for temporary fixing in the tile adhesive on a surface (16) being tiled. The straight edges (11) are inked by stamp-pad or the like, and a free tile (19) is marked by touching its face onto the straight edges (11) whilst an edge of the free tile (19) is aligned with a boundary of the surface (16).

Description: TILE MARKING APPLIANCE This invention relates to an appliance for use in marking tiles for cutting; and to a method of marking f *, tiles for cutting. The term "tiles" refers, in addition to ceramic tiles, to all other regular tiles for example carpet tiles, ceiling tiles including ceiling tiles of polystyrene or similar material, and flooring tiles of linoleum, plastics materials, cork or wood. The application of tiles to a surface involves cutting some tiles for placing adjacent boundaries of the surface to be tiled. Prior to cutting, a tile usually must be marked with a cutting line. Such marking has hitherto involved the taking and transferring of measurements or the manipulation o£ two free tiles (or a free tile and a tile-sized template) . Measurement-taking has the disadvantage of being time-consuming and prone to error; and the manipulation referred to has the disadvantage of involving positioning and simultaneously holding a free tile accurately over a fixed tile whilst using the other tile or template. This demands certain skills which are beyond some persons. An object of the present invention is to provide an appliance for use in marking tiles for cutting, and/or to provide a method of marking tiles for cutting; whereby the mentioned disadvantages are obviated or mitigated. According to the present invention from one aspect, there is provided an appliance for use in marking tiles for cutting; comprising a locating member for abutment or alignment with an edge of a fixed tile or like datum to locate the appliance with respect to said edge or datum, an ink-carrying straight-edge aligned with respect to the locating member, and attachment means for -Z - use in attaching the appliance to a surface. The term "ink" means any medium suitable for marking the face of whatever kind of tile is being applied. In use of the appliance, the locating member serves for positioning of the straight-edge for marking a tile; and the attachment means frees the user's hands for dealing with the tile to be marked. Further, according to the present invention from a second aspect, there is provided an appliance for use in marking tiles for cutting; comprising an elongate body of L-shaped cross-section whereof the free edge portion of one leg or flange defines a bevelled configuration the tip of which lies substantially in the plane of the inside of the said one leg or flange. Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a method of marking a tile for cutting, comprising the steps of locating an ink-carrying straight-edge with respect to an edge of a fixed tile or like datum, attaching the straight-edge to the fixed tile or to a surface adjacent the fixed tile or like datum, positioning an edge of a free tile at a boundary of said surface and touching the face of the free tile onto the straight-edge. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tile marking appliance in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line II-II in Fig. 1, to a larger scale; Fig. 3 is an elevation showing fixed tiles and a free tile, and illustrating the method of tile marking in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of a tile marked in accordance with the present invention, ready for cutting. In Fig. 1 of the drawings, the tile-marking appliance consists of a piece of extruded plastics material of L-shape cross-section of which one leg 10 constitutes a locating member for abutment with an edge of a fixed tile as explained later in this description. The free edge portion of the locating member 10 is cut away intermediate its ends to define two straight-edges 11 each of which is lined or covered with a thin layer 12 of a rubber or rubber-like material for carrying an inking medium (not shown) . Conveniently, the inking layer 12 is secured on the straight-edges 11 by means of adhesive. The other leg or flange 13 of the mentioned extrusion constitutes an attachment means for use in attaching the appliance to a tile or to a surface adjacent a tile as explained later in this description. For ease of handling the appliance, there is provided a handle or grip 14 consisting of a further length of L-shaped cross-section extrusion which is inverted and cemented to the parts mentioned above positioned centrally with respect thereto. Inking of the straight edges 11 is by means of a stamp-pad (not shown) in well-known manner. Dimensions typical for use with a ceramic tile measuring 150 mm square are as follows. The longitudinal dimension of the appliance is approximately 150 mm, each straight-edge 11 is 40 mm long and the gap therebetween is 70 mm. The height of the locating member 10 (not including the straight-edges 11) is approximately 15 mm, and the width of the attachment means or flange 13 is also approximately 15 mm. It will be understood that the dimensions may be varied to suit the general dimensions of tiles to be marked. The method of using the appliance described above is as follows. In Fig. 3, three complete ceramic tiles 15 are shown fixed to a surface 16 having a boundary at 17. The boundary 17 may or may not be defined by an upstand 18. It is required to cut a tile 19 to fit the area between the boundary 17 and the exposed edge of the nearest fixed tile 15. Surface 16 has an adhesive 20 applied thereto. The appliance described above is pressed onto the adhesive 20 adjacent the tile 15 with the locating member 10 of the appliance in abutment with the free edge of the tile 15, and the appliance being approximately centred with respect to the tile edge. Thus, the appliance is temporarily fixed leaving the user's hands free to deal with the tile 19 to be cut. This latter tile is turned face towards the surface 16 and one edge of the tile 19 is aligned with the boundary 17. If the boundary 17 has an upstand 18, then the edge of the tile 19 may conveniently be brought into contact with the upstand 18. The tile 19 is then swung a few degrees about the edge at the boundary 17 so as to bring the face of the tile temporarily into contact with the straight-edges 11 which immediately mark the tile 19 for cutting along a cutting line 21 (see Fig. 4) which is defined by marks 22 left by the appliance. In Fig. 2, it can be seen that each of the straight-edges 11 features a bevelled upper portion the tip of which is substantially in the plane of the inside face of the locating member 10. This arrangement automatically positions the cutting line to make allowance for a grout space between the tile 15 and the tile 19 which can, after cutting, be laid with the cut edge at the boundary 17. Thus, the grout space is substantially equal to the thickness of the locating member 10. The tile marking appliance has been described, and the method has been described, with reference to square tiles. However, it will be appreciated that the appliance may be used with rectangular and any other regularly-shaped tiles. The appliance may be used to mark irregularly shaped tiles or like plates such as pieces of glass in glazing work. If no tile adhesive is present, any temporary adhesive means may be used to hold the appliance. In performing the method, the appliance may be located at a datum in the form of a line scribed or extended from a notional fixed tile edge. In one modification with the scope of the present invention, the attachment means consists of a flat plate-like or flange-like member and is secured to the face of a fixed tile simply by pressing with some adhesive smeared therebetween. The thus modified appliance has a locating member which simply turns downwards from the attachment means for the purpose of engaging the free edge of the fixed tile; and the straight-edge or straight-edges is/are disposed above the locating member as in the embodiment described above. Also, in other modifications, other forms of attachment means are envisaged, for example a flexible sucker for attachment to the face of a fixed tile may carry a simple bracket arrangement provided with screws for tightening when a locating member and straight-edges have been properly positioned. The described bevelled upper portion may be modified or omitted according to precise line-position requirements. The underside of the flange 13 may be provided with a shim of length shorter than a tile side, and of thickness to lift the appliance clear of tile spacers. The flange 13 may have cut-away end portions to define supplementary edges for alignment with a datum. Appliances in accordance with the present invention may be used in cases where the boundary 17 extends on a line angled with respect to the edge of the last-placed fixed tile. In such a case, experience is used to determine the positioning of the appliance longitudinally with respect to the free edge of the last-fixed tile so that the wedge-shaped finally-cut tile has the appropriate dimensions. It is envisaged that the appliance may be provided with graduation marks to assist the placement thereof according to the degree of angle involved.

Claims: -1 - CLAIMS 1. An appliance for use in marking tiles for cutting; comprising a locating member (10) for abutment or alignment with an edge of a fixed tile (15) or like datum to locate the appliance with respect to said edge or datum, and ink-carrying straight-edge (11) aligned with respect to the locating member (10) , and attachment means (13) for use in attaching the appliance to a surface. 2. An appliance for use in marking tiles for cutting; comprising an elongate body (10, 13) of L-shaped cross-section whereof the free edge portion of one leg or flange (10) defines a bevelled configuration (11) the tip of which lies substantially in the plane of the inside of the said one leg or flange (10) . 3. An appliance according to claim 2 , wherein the said free edge portion is cut away intermediate its ends. 4. An appliance according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said bevelled configuration is lined with a layer (12) of rubber or rubber-like material. 5. An appliance according to any one of claims 2 to 4, including a handle (14) secured to the body (10, 13) between the insides of the legs or flanges thereof. 6. A method of marking a tile for cutting; comprising the steps of locating an ink-carrying straight-edge (11) with respect to an edge of a fixed tile (15) or like datum, attaching the straight-edge (11) to the fixed tile or to a surface (16) adjacent the fixed tile (15) or like datum, positioning an edge of a free tile (19) at a boundary (17, 18) of said surface (16) and touching the face of the free tile (19) onto the straight-edge (11) .

Inventors: ROBESON GEORGE, ROBESON, GEORGE
Applicants: ROBESON GEORGE, ROBESON, GEORGE
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B25H7
IPC codes: B25H7