Abstract:
A glass tile system and a method of installing glass tiles on a subsurface, such as a floor, wall, counter top, table top, or ceiling, by forming a grouting frame around the glass tiles with rods of solid flexible plastic or polymer material, which are removably fastened to the subsurface with a plurality of fasteners.

Description:
This application is based upon a provisional application filed on Dec. 11, 1999 with a Ser. No. of 60/170,263, and is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a glass tile system and a method of installing glass tiles on a subsurface, such as a floor, wall, counter top, table top, or ceiling, by framing the glass tiles with rods of solid flexible plastic or polymer material, by forming a grouting frame around the glass tiles with rods of solid flexible plastic or polymer material, which are removably fastened to the subsurface with a plurality of fasteners. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Use of glass tiles on subsurfaces such as floors, walls, ceilings, and counter-tops is uncommon because of safety concerns arising from the possibility that the tile will break or crack. Progress made in the art of manufacturing tempered and laminated glass has improved the safety of glass and has increased the desirability of using glass tiles on such subsurfaces in a home or office environment. The advantages of glass tile over other tile materials is that glass can be manufactured at various levels of transparency, and the colors in the glass tile can be altered during manufacturing and made uniform throughout the tile. Although the use of tempered and laminated glass tiles has greatly improved the safety of using glass tiles, precautions need to be taken when installing and using glass tiles to further reduce the likelihood of premature cracking and breaking. In particular, the glass tiles need to be installed in such a manner so that one tile does not rub or push against another tile or another rigid surface or material. Also, in the event that a glass tile does crack or break, it is necessary for safety reasons to make the tile easily removable and replaceable. 
     Using tiles made from ceramics, marbles, or other materials to cover floors, walls, and counter tops is well known and broadly practiced. There are two general methods of installation that are commonly used when installing tiles on subsurfaces, such as floors, walls and counter tops. The first method consists of adhering the tiles to the subsurface using cement and fine grain sand as the adhesive material, and using the cement and fine grain material as a grouting between the tiles. The second method consists of gluing the tiles to the subsurface, whereby one tile is placed immediately adjacent to the next tile, which requires no grouting between the tiles. 
     These two methods are disadvantageous when using glass tiles. In particular, the cement and fine grain sand grouting is inflexible and does not allow the tiles to move or flex, which increases the possibility that the glass tiles and grouting may crack or break. The method of gluing one tile immediately adjacent to the next tile also does not allow the tile to move or flex and can cause increased cracking and breaking along the adjacent edges of glass tiles. In addition, neither method allows for easy removal of tiles in the event that the tile is cracked or broken. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the invention is depicted in an illustrative manner: 
     FIG. 1 is a top elevational view, showing a plurality of glass tiles, a grouting frame formed from rods of solid flexible plastic or polymer material, and a plurality of fasteners; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a glass tile showing the generally planer mounting surface, the generally planer display surface, the peripheral edges, and the length, width and thickness of the tile; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a rectangular shaped rod of solid flexible plastic or polymer material. FIG. 3 also shows holes drilled in the grouting frame where fasteners are inserted to attach the grouting frame to the subsurface; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the grouting frame formed by rectangular rods of solid flexible plastic or polymer material and the placement of glass tiles into the grouting frame; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the subsurface, rectangular shaped rods forming the grouting frame, a glass tile on the subsurface, and a plurality of fasteners attaching the grouting frame to the subsurface; and 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing “T” shaped and “L” shaped rods of solid flexible plastic or polymer material forming the grouting frame and showing the grouting frame overlaying glass tiles. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     This method of installing glass tiles includes a subsurface  20  (FIG.  5 ), a plurality of glass tiles  10  (FIG.  1 ), rods of solid flexible plastic or polymer material  30  used to create a grouting frame  40  around each glass tile  10 , and a plurality of fasteners  50  for attaching the rods of solid flexible plastic or polymer material to the subsurface  20 . The rods of solid flexible plastic or polymer material  30  may be rectangular in shape when viewing a cross-section. Alternatively, the rods of solid flexible plastic or polymer material  30  may be “T” shaped or “L” shaped (FIG. 6) so that the top section  240  of the grouting frame  220  overlays the glass tiles  10 . The method may include adhering the glass tiles  10  to the subsurface  20  using glue or other adhesive materials. The method may also include the application of a sealant to the peripheral edges of the glass tile and the inner surface of the frame formed by the rod of flexible plastic or polymer material such that moisture and other materials do not penetrate to the subsurface. 
     The preferred embodiment of the subsurface  20  (FIG. 1) is wood. Other subsurface materials such as metal, concrete, and plastics also could be used. 
     The preferred embodiment of the glass tile  10  is a tile manufactured from tempered and/or laminated glass, with the tile having a generally planer mounting surface  110  (FIG.  2 ), a generally planer top or display surface  120 , and peripheral edges  130 . The preferred thickness of the glass tile  150  is one-quarter (¼) inch or thicker. The preferred width  140  and length  160  of the glass tile is eight (8) inches or wider. This invention could be used for glass tiles having a length and width of less than 8 inches. The preferred embodiment is for glass tile  10  in a rectangular or square shape, but the method could be used for glass tile in other shapes, such as triangular or octagonal. 
     The preferred material for the grouting frame  40  is ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having a thickness  200  (FIG. 3) equal to or greater than the thickness  150  of the glass tile  10 . The ultra high molecular weight polyethylene provides the strength, wear, and flexibility needed for the grouting frame around the glass tiles  10 . The ultra high molecular weight polyethylene also can be manufactured in a variety of colors that allows for added decorative affect. The grouting frame  40  also allows the glass tiles to be properly spaced to give a uniform finished appearance. 
     In the preferred embodiment of this invention, holes  210  (FIG. 3) are drilled through rectangular shaped ultra high weight polyethylene  30  at predetermined distances and locations. The holes are drilled in such a manner that the head of the fasteners  50  recedes into the polyethylene and the top of the fastener is level with the top surface  70  of the grouting frame  40 . Predetermined lengths of the polyethylene  30  are attached to the subsurface  20  using a plurality of fasteners  50  so that the polyethylene  30  forms grouting frames  40  with inside dimensions equal in width and length to the width  140  and length  160  of the glass tiles  10  and that allows the peripheral edges  130  of the glass tiles  10  to contact the inside surface  230  of the grouting frame  40 . The glass tile  10  is placed within the grouting frame  40  so that its generally planer mounting surface  110  contacts the subsurface  20  and the inside surfaces  230  of the grouting frame  40 . A sealant material may be applied to the peripheral edges of the glass tile to prevent moisture and other foreign matter from penetrating the surface to the subsurface  20 . 
     In an alternative embodiment of this invention, holes  210  (FIG. 3) are drilled through “T” and/or “L” shaped ultra high weight polyethylene  30  at predetermined distances and locations. The holes are drilled in such a manner that the head of the fasteners  50  recedes into the polyethylene and the top of the fastener is level with the top surface  70  of the grouting frame  40 . Predetermined lengths of the polyethylene  30  are attached to the subsurface  20  using a plurality of fasteners  50  so that the polyethylene  30  forms a grouting frame  40  such that the top section  240  of the grouting frame  220  overlays (FIG. 6) the peripheral edges of the glass tiles  10 . The glass tile  10  is placed within the grouting frame  40  so that its generally planer mounting surface  110  contacts the subsurface  20  and the grouting frame overlays the peripheral edges of the glass tiles  10 . A sealant material may be applied to the peripheral edges of the glass tile to prevent moisture and other foreign matter from penetrating the surface to the subsurface  20 . 
     In the event it becomes necessary to remove a glass tile  10 , the grouting frame  40  around the individual glass tile  10  can be removed allowing for easy removal and replacement of the glass tile  10  without damaging the surrounding glass tiles  10  or the grouting frame  40 . 
     Although this invention relates to the installation of glass tiles, the method can be used for other types of tile, including ceramic tiles and tiles made of plastic or polymer material.