TILING TRIM STRIP

Abstract: An extruded trim strip, for providing a shaped edge on an array of tiles, is suitable for use with two different thicknesses of tile. The strip comprises an edging strip (11) connected by a flexible hinge (12) to a fixing strip (10). The edging strip comprises a convexly curved exposed wall (16) and connecting walls (14, 15) which is joined to the fixing strip by the hinge. The connecting walls (14, 15) are of different depths so that the side edges (17, 18) of the curved wall are different distances from the hinge (12). The two distances correspond respectively to two different common thicknesses of tile, so that when the edging strip (11) is bent to one side of the fixing strip (10) it is suitable for edging tiles of one thickness, whereas when bent to the opposite side of the fixing strip (10) it is suitable for edging tiles of a different thickness.

Description: "Tiling Trim Strip" The invention relates to an elongate trim strip, particularly but not exclusively for finishing the edge of an array of tiles. As is well known, tiling trim strips are often provided in the form of an elongate plastics extrusion comprising a fixing strip, which is secured beneath a row of tiles at the edge ofthe array, and an upstanding edging strip, integral with the fixing strip, which bears against the narrow edge of the row of tiles and is shaped to provide a smooth transition from the upper surface of the tiles to the surface on which they are laid Alteratively, such a trim strip may be used at the junction between two rows of tiles which meet at an extemal comer. In this case the trim strip is laid on one side of the comer and its underside projects beyond the co er by a distance equal to the thickness of the tiles on the other side ofthe comer A disadvantage with existing trim strips of this kind is that the thickness ofthe tiles with which it can be used is determined by the height of the upstanding edging strip, so that a particular edging strip can only be used with tiles of a single specified thickness. However, tiles are manufactured in different thicknesses, for example many tiles are manufactured with a nominal thickness of either 5mm or 7 5mm Attempts have been made to overcome this problem by providing trim strips where the edging strip is deformable with respect to the fixing strip so that the height of the edging strip may be varied. For example, in one such arrangement a curved edging strip can be reduced in height by bending it downwards towards the fixing strip, a hook arrangement being provided to engage and retain the edging strip in the lower height position. However, such strips require accurate extrusion to ensure that the hook arrangement will engage properly and to ensure that the edging strip is ofthe required height after it has been deformed to engage the hook arrangement. Also, the necessity of deforming the edging strip may result in the strip having an uneven appearance in the lower deformed position. Furthermore, since the strip must be capable of being deformed downwardly its upper extremity, near the upper tile edge, is necessarily comparatively unsupported, leaving the possibility ofthe edge becoming deformed in subsequent use, particularly when used in the undeformed, higher condition The present invention sets out to provide an improved form of tiling trim strip which is suitable for use with different thicknesses of tile and which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages. According to the invention there is provided an elongate trim strip for finishing the edge of an array of tiles, comprising a fixing structure and an elongate edging strip mounted on the fixing structure and formed with two regions thereof which are of difterent dimensions, the edging strip being selectively displaceable relative to the fixing structure to either a first position in which one of said regions is upstanding relative to the fixing structure or a second position in which the other of said regions is upstanding relative to the fixing structure. In use the edging strip is simply displaced to the position where the region ofthe edging strip of the appropriate dimension is upstanding from the fixing structure, depending on the thickness ofthe tiles with which the strip is to be used. Since the edging strip is not itself necessarily deformable, but is simply displaceable relative to the fixing structure, it may be comparatively rigid in cross-section so as to provide a smooth, even and strong edging strip to the tile array in either position Also, since the strip does not require accurate inter-engagement of parts in either form of use, the strip may be simple and inexpensive to extrude Preferably the fixing structure is elongate and co-extensive with the edging strip The edging strip is also preferably integral with the fixing structure In a preferred embodiment the edging strip is hingedly connected to the fixing structure so as to be pivotable between said first and second positions In this case said two regions of the edging strip may include first and second edges respectively which are disposed at different distances from the hinge connection between the edging strip and the fixing structure. The edging strip may comprise an elongate exposed portion formed with said first and second edges, and a connecting portion extending from the exposed portion to the hinge connection. The connecting portion may comprise an elongate wall, one longitudinal edge of which is connected to the hinge connection and the other longitudinal edge of which is connected to the exposed portion at a location intermediate said first and second edges thereof. Altematively the connecting portion may comprise two elongate walls which diverge as they extend away from the hinge connection, one longitudinal edge of each wall being connected to the hinge connection and the other longitudinal edge of each wall being connected to the exposed portion ofthe edging strip adjacent a respective one of said first and second edges thereof. In either of these arrangements said first and second edges preferably subtend an angle of substantially 90° at the hinge connection In any of the above arrangements the outer surface of the exposed portion is curved, for example convexly curved, in cross-section. The edging strip and fixing structure may comprise extrusions of plastics, metal or any other suitable material, and in the case where the edging strip and fixing structure are integral with one another they may comprise co-extrusions connected by a flexible hinge portion The flexible hinge portion may comprise a weakened portion of the extrusion material, or may comprise a co-extruded strip of a more flexible material The fixing structure preferably comprises a flat elongate strip formed with recesses, such as longitudinal grooves, in both faces thereof The flat strip will also normally be formed with holes or perforations to allow the permeation of adhesive The following is a more detailed description of embodiments ofthe invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, through a first form of tile trim strip according to the invention, Figure 2 is a section showing the strip used with 7 5mm tiles on a flat surface, Figure 3 is a section showing the strip used with 5 mm tiles at an extemal co er, Figure 4 is a sectional view of an altemative form of tile trim strip according to the invention, in use with 5mm tiles, and Figure 5 shows the same trim strip in use with 7.5mm tiles. Referring to Figure 1 : the trim strip is formed from extruded plastics, such as UPVC, and comprises a fixing strip 10 and an edging strip 1 1 connected by an integral hinge portion 12. The hinge portion 12 may simply comprise a reduced thickness part of the extrusion to provide the necessary flexibility, or it may comprise a co-extruded strip of more flexible material The fixing strip 10 is formed with longitudinal grooves 13 in both surfaces thereof and is substantially flat so as to lie between the underside of a row of tiles and the suiface on which the tiles are laid The edging strip 11 is generally quadrant-shaped comprising two walls 14, 15 extending at right angles to one another and meeting at the hinge portion 12, the outer extremities ofthe walls 14, 15 being connected to a convexly curved exposed wall 16 The longitudinal side edges 17, 18 ofthe curved wall 16 project beyond the walls 14 and 15 respectively. The wall 14 is formed with a longitudinal notch 19 and the side ofthe fixing strip 10 nearer the wall 15 is similarly formed with a longitudinal notch 20. The puφoses ofthe notches will be explained in relation to Figure 3 The distances ofthe edges 17 and 18 from the hinge 12 are different, the edge 17 being approximately 7 5mm from the hinge and the edge 18 being approximately 5mm from the hinge Figure 2 shows the strip in use to provide a neat edging for a row of 7 5mm tiles 21 laid on a flat surface 22. It will be seen that the edging strip 1 1 has been pivoted to a position where its edge 18 bears against the surface 22 so that the wall 15 is co-planar with the fixing strip 10 and the wall 14 upstands at 90° to the fixing strip The edge 17, since it is about 7.5mm from the hinge 12, then neatly engages the top edge ofthe first row of tiles. In conventional manner for tile trim strips, the fixing strip 10 underlies part of the row of tiles, adhesive filling the grooves 13 and the adhesive layer between the rest ofthe tiles on the surface 22 being indicated at 23 It will be appreciated that if the trim strip were to be used with tiles of 5mm thickness, the fixing strip 10 would be turned over and the edging strip 1 1 pivoted to the position where the wall 14 is co-planar with the fixing strip 10 and the wall 15 upstands at 90° thereto, so that the edge 18, which is only 5mm from the hinge 12, engages the edges of the tiles. Figure 3 shows the trim strip in use with 5mm tiles at the junction between two arrays of tiles at an extemal co er. In this case the notch 19 on the wall 14 ofthe edging strip is lined up with the extemal comer on which the tiles 24 are mounted. The notch is so positioned that the projecting length ofthe wall 14 is then 5mm so as to match the thickness ofthe tiles 25 on the other side ofthe comer. If the trim strip were to be used on an extemal co er with 7.5mm tiles, the notch 20 on the fixing strip 10 would be lined up with the comer so that the wall 15 projects by 7.5mm from the co er to match the thickness ofthe thicker tiles. It will be seen that the edging strip 1 1 remains undeformed in both positions of use, and also the ends of its curved portion 16 are always fully supported by the walls 14 or 15. Consequently, the exposed and decorative outer surface ofthe trim strip will remain smooth, even and undeformed at all times. Furthermore, since the trim strip does not have any parts which must inter-engage accurately in use, close tolerances are not essential and the strip may thus, if required, be simply and economically extruded. Figures 4 and 5 show an altemative form of tile trim strip in accordance with the invention. As in the previous arrangement, the trim strip is formed from extruded plastics, such as UPVC and comprises a fixing strip 30 and an edging strip 31 connected by an integral hinge portion 32 of reduced thickness. The hinge portion 32 may be formed from the same plastics as the rest ofthe strip or may comprise a co-extruded strip of more flexible material The fixing strip 30 is of similar configuration to the fixing strip 10 ofthe previous arrangement. However, in this case the curved exposed wall 36 ofthe edging strip 31 is connected to the fixing strip 10 by only a single wall 34 which extends between the hinge portion 32 and a location on the inner surface of the curved wall 36 which is intermediate the longitudinal side edges 37 and 38 ofthe curved wall The intersection between the connecting wall 34 and the curved wall 36 is closer to the edge 37 ofthe curved wall than it is to the edge 38, for the purpose to be described Figures 4 and 5 show the strip in use to provide a neat finish to the upper edges of rows of tiles applied to the surface 42 of a vertical wall. Figure 4 shows the strip in use with tiles 41 having a thickness of 5.0mm In this case the edging strip 31 has been bent to a position where the edge 37 ofthe curved wall 36 rests on the surface 42 of the wall. In this position the opposite edge 38 of the curved wall 36 is spaced a distance of 5.0mm from the fixing strip hinge 32 and fixing strip 30 so as to engage neatly the upper edges ofthe tiles. If the trim strip is to be used with tiles of 7.5mm thickness then, as shown in Figure 5, the edging strip 31 is bent in the opposite direction with respect to the fixing strip 30 so that the opposite edge 38 ofthe curved wall 36 bears against the wall surface 42 In this position the edge 37 ofthe curved wall is a distance of 7 5mm from the fixing strip 30, due to the asymmetrical arrangement ofthe connecting wall 34 with respect to the curved wall 36 As in the previous arrangement, the fixing strip 30 underlies part ofthe top row of tiles The trim strip of Figures 4 and 5 may also be used at a corner in similar manner to the arrangement of Figure 3 The trim strip shown in Figures 4 and 5 is preferably initially extruded with the connecting wall 34 in line with the fixing strip 30, being bent from this initial position in either direction according to the thickness of tile with which the strip is to be used Although, in the described embodiments, the edging strip is integrally connected to the fixing strip by a flexible hinge, arrangements are possible where the edging strip and fixing strip are separately formed, each with a part of a hinge, and are then connected together by connecting the hinge parts together Also, the edge strip might be displaceable to different positions on the fixing strip by means other than pivoting For example, the edging strip might be a separately formed element which may be clipped to the fixing strip in two (or more) altemative positions The trim strips according to the invention are particularly suitable for manufacture from plastics However, the invention does not exclude trim strips where all or parts ofthe strip are made from other materials For example, the strip may be formed from metal It may be wholly formed from metal, in which case the fixing and edging parts thereof may be connected by an integral thin metal hinge portion which enables the two parts to be bent to the desired position relative to each other. Altematively, the hinge portion may be formed from a different flexible material which is bonded to one or both of the other parts of the strip Although the strip and strip parts are particularly suitable for manufacture by extrusion, they may also be made by any other suitable process, for example by injection moulding

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An elongate trim strip comprising a fixing structure and an elongate edging strip mounted on the fixing structure and formed with two regions thereof which are of different dimensions, the edging strip being selectively displaceable relative to the fixing structure to either a first position in which one of said regions is upstanding relative to the fixing structure or a second position in which the other of said regions is upstanding relative to the fixing structure 2 A trim strip according to Claim 1 , wherein the fixing structure is elongate and co-extensive with the edging strip 3. A trim strip according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the edging strip is integral with the fixing structure. 4. A trim strip according to any ofthe preceding claims, wherein the edging strip is hingedly connected to the fixing structure so as to be pivotable between said first and second positions. 5. A trim strip according to Claim 4, wherein said two regions ofthe edging strip include first and second edges respectively which are disposed at different distances from the hinge connection between the edging strip and the fixing structure. 6. A trim strip according to Claim 5, wherein the edging strip comprises an elongate exposed portion formed with said first and second edges, and a connecting portion extending from the exposed portion to the hinge connection. 7. A trim strip according to Claim 6, wherein the connecting portion comprises an elongate wall, one longitudinal edge of which is connected to the hinge connection and the other longitudinal edge of which is connected to the exposed portion at a location intermediate said first and second edges thereof 8 A trim stnp according to Claim 6, wherein the connecting portion compnses two elongate walls which diverge as they extend away from the hinge connection, one longitudinal edge of each wall being connected to the hinge connection and the other longitudinal edge of each wall being connected to the exposed portion ofthe edging stnp adjacent a respective one of said first and second edges thereof 9 A trim strip according to any of Claims 5 to 8, wherein said first and second edges subtend an angle of substantially 90° at the hinge connection 10 A tnm stnp according to any of Claims 6 to 9, wherein the outer surface of the exposed portion is curved in cross-section 11 A trim strip according to Claim 10, wherein the outer surface of the exposed portion is convexly curved in cross-section 12 A trim strip according to any ofthe preceding claims, wherein the edging strip and fixing stmcture compnse plastics extrusions 13 A tπm strip according to Claim 12, wherein the edging stnp and fixing stmcture are integral with one another and comprise co-extrusions connected by a flexible hinge portion 14 A tπm strip according to Claim 13, wherein the flexible hinge portion comprises a weakened portion ofthe extmsion material, or comprises a co-extmded stnp of a more flexible material 15 A trim strip according to any ofthe preceding claims wherein the fixing stmcture comprises a flat elongate strip formed with recesses in both faces thereof 16. A trim strip according to Claim 15, wherein said recesses comprise longitudinal grooves in the fixing strip.

Inventors: COOK RICHARD SHELDON, COOK, RICHARD, SHELDON
Applicants: COOK RICHARD SHELDON, RAVENSCROFT PLASTICS, COOK, RICHARD, SHELDON, RAVENSCROFT PLASTICS LIMITED
Application year: 1996
Main classification: E04F19
IPC codes: E04F19