Patent Publication Number: US-2003221388-A1

Title: Tile edging strip

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/753,379 entitled “Tile Edging Strip” filed Jan. 2, 2001 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/199,629, filed Apr. 25, 2000, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates in general to a tile edging strip, and more particularly, to a tile edging strip which is adaptable for wall and/or floor tiling applications.  
       [0004] 2. Background Art  
       [0005] Tile edging strips have been identified in the art for years, and are the subject of numerous patents, including: U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,934; U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,548; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 364,234; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 364,233; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 363,996.  
       [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,934 discloses an interfacing floor tile for a rectilinear flooring system comprising a top surface, a parallel bottom surface, and three side surfaces forming a right triangle. The three side surfaces are composed of a first side surface and a second side surface which form the adjacent sides of the right triangle and a third surface which forms the side opposite to the right triangle. The first side surface and the second side surface are integrally formed with an outwardly extending interlocking strip having a multitude of male interlocking members of any like tile. The first side surface, the second side surface, and the third side surface are formed with a multitude of female cavities in the bottom surface and are located in a row adjacent to the side surfaces and the cavities are positioned to mate with male connecting members of any like tile. Alternatively, the first side and the second side surface are formed with a multitude of female cavities in the bottom surface and are located in a row adjacent to the first side surface and the second side surface and the cavities are positioned to mate with male connecting members of any like tile.  
       [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,548 discloses a method of installing a stone tile surface comprising the steps of: (1) fixing a plurality of stone tiles to a generally planar surface to form a covering layer having a first edge; and (2) providing a first edging piece formed from additional stone tiles, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a stone tile; (b) cutting the stone tile into a plurality of strips; (c) shaping a first strip of the plurality of strips into a first side member; (d) shaping a second strip of the plurality of strips into a second side member; (e) using a third strip of the plurality of strips as a face member having a first edge and a second edge; (f) affixing the first side member and the second side member to the first edge and the second side member and the face member respectively; (g) supporting the first side member, the second side member and the face member with a base member; and (h) concealing the first edge by affixing the first edging piece to the first edge.  
       [0008] U.S. Pat. No. Des. 364,234; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 364,233; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 363,996 disclose the ornamental design of tile edging strips which are configured for receiving tiles therewithin.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009] The present invention is directed to a tile edging system. The system comprises a primary substrate, a secondary substrate, at least one tile member and a tile edging member. The secondary substrate is positioned in so as to overlie the primary substrate. The tile edging member includes a substrate engaging member, a tile engaging member and a transition member. The substrate engaging member is positioned between the primary substrate and the secondary substrate. The tile engaging member is positioned between the at least one tile member and the secondary substrate. The transition member connects the substrate engaging member and the tile engaging member. Additionally, the transition member spans a thickness of the secondary substrate.  
       [0010] In one embodiment, the substrate engaging member and the tile engaging member are substantially parallel to each other. In one such embodiment, the transition member is substantially perpendicular to each of the substrate engaging member and the tile engaging member. In another such embodiment, the transition member is oblique to each of the substrate engaging member and the tile engaging member.  
       [0011] In another preferred embodiment, the tile edging member further includes a lip member extending from one of the tile engaging member and the transition member proximate a junction thereof. The lip member substantially corresponding to a thickness of the at least one tile. In one embodiment, the transition member is substantially arcuate.  
       [0012] In one embodiment, the transition member and the lip member are substantially collinear and substantially perpendicular to the tile engaging member. In one such embodiment, the transition member and the lip member are substantially perpendicular to the tile engaging member. In another such embodiment, the transition member and the lip member are substantially oblique to the tile engaging member.  
       [0013] In yet another aspect of the invention, the invention comprises a tile edging strip which includes a primary substrate, a secondary substrate, at least one tile member, a bonding agent and a tile edging member. The secondary substrate is positioned so as to overlie the primary substrate. The tile member is positioned so as to overlie the secondary substrate. The primary substrate, the secondary substrate and the at least one tile member define a cavity. The bonding agent is positioned within the cavity. The tile edging member includes a transition member and an agent engagement member. The transition member spans a thickness of the secondary substrate. The agent engagement member extends from the transition member into the bonding agent positioned within the cavity. The agent engagement member firmly engages the bonding agent, to, in turn, maintain the edging member substantially fixed orientation relative to the primary and secondary substrates.  
       [0014] In a preferred embodiment, the tile edging member further includes a lip member emanating from the transition member, the lip member substantially spans a thickness of the at least one tile.  
       [0015] In another embodiment, the agent engagement member substantially bisects the transition member. In yet another embodiment, the agent engagement member is substantially perpendicular to the transition member. In yet another embodiment, the bonding agent comprises a flexible material.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0016] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:  
     [0017]FIG. 1 of the drawings is a fragmented perspective view of a tile edging strip fabricated in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0018]FIG. 2 of the drawings is a fragmented perspective view of a tile edging strip fabricated in accordance with the present invention associated with a primary substrate, a secondary substrate, and a plurality of tiles;  
     [0019] FIGS.  3 A- 3 C of the drawings are fragmented perspective views of tile edging strips associated with corner connectors fabricated in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0020] FIGS.  4 A- 4 G of the drawings are cross-sectional views of a plurality of embodiments of tile edging strips fabricated in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0021]FIG. 5 of the drawings is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of a tile edging strip fabricated in accordance with the present invention; and  
     [0022]FIGS. 6 a - 6   b  of the drawings are cross-sectional views of a plurality of embodiments of the tile edging strips fabricated in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0023]FIGS. 6 c - 6   d  of the drawings are cross-sectional views of a plurality of embodiments of the tile edging strips fabricated in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0024]FIG. 7 of the drawings is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the tile edging strip fabricated in accordance with the present invention; and  
     [0025]FIG. 8 of the drawings are a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the tile edging strip fabricated in accordance with the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0026] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and described herein in detail several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.  
     [0027] It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings with like reference characters.  
     [0028] Referring now to the drawings, and to FIG. 1 in particular, a perspective schematic representation of a first embodiment of tile edging strip  10  is shown, which generally comprises substrate engaging member  12 , spacing support member  14 , tile engaging member  16 , and transition member  18 . It will be understood that FIG. 1 is merely a schematic representation of tile edging strip  10 . As such, some of the components may be distorted from their actual scale for pictorial clarity.  
     [0029] Substrate engaging member  12  includes first surface  12 A and second surface  12 B. First surface  12 A is configured for association with and/or engagement to primary substrate  20  (See FIG. 2). Primary substrate  20  may comprise any one of a number of materials, including, for example, walls such as drywalls, plaster walls, brick walls, cement walls, and/or wood walls, as well as conventional floors, cement slabs, and sub-floors —depending upon the particular application. Second surface  12 B is configured for association with and/or engagement to secondary substrate  22 . Secondary substrate  22  may also comprise any one of a number of materials, including, but not limited to, backer board, cement board, plywood, etc.  
     [0030] Referring once again to FIG. 1, substrate engaging member  12  includes a plurality of apertures  24 . Apertures  24  are configured to receive one or more fasteners, including threaded and non-threaded fasteners such as screws, bolts, nails, as well as pins, anchors, rivets, and/or tile adhesives or other bonding agents—just to name a few. Apertures  24  are generally oval which facilitate operative alignment of tile edging strip  10  relative to primary substrate  20 . In particular, tile edging strip  10  may be slidably displaced when one or more fasteners are partially secured within apertures  24 . Such displacement can become fixed upon complete securement of one or more fasteners to tile edging strip  10  through the plurality of apertures  24 . It will be understood that while apertures  24  have been disclosed as being generally oval, numerous other geometric configurations are likewise contemplated for use in accordance with the present invention, including substantially circular, substantially triangular, substantially square, substantially rectangular, substantially polygonal, substantially arbitrary, etc.  
     [0031] Spacing support member  14  extends contiguously from second surface  12 B of substrate engaging member  12  and first surface  16 A of tile engaging member  16  in a generally perpendicular vector relative to the same. Spacing support member  14  is positioned between juxtaposed portions of substrate engaging member  12  and tile engaging member  16 , respectively. Spacing support member  14 , in cooperation with substrate engaging member  12  and tile engaging member  16 , define channel  26 , which is configured for controllably receiving secondary substrate  22 . Spacing support member  14  also serves to increase the structural rigidity of tile engaging strip  10 .  
     [0032] Tile engaging member  16  includes first surface  16 A and second surface  16 B. First surface  16 A is configured for association with and/or engagement to secondary substrate  22 . Second surface  16 B is configured for association with and/or the secure receipt of one or more tiles  28 . Tiles  28  may be fabricated from numerous materials, including ceramic, marble, porcelain, natural stone—or other materials known in the art.  
     [0033] Referring again to FIG. 1, tile engaging member  16  includes a plurality of apertures  30 . As will be discussed in greater detail below, apertures  30  are configured to receive and dissipate tile adhesive used to secure tiles  28  to tile engaging member  16  and secondary substrate  22 . They, too, may receive one or more of various types of fasteners for additional support.  
     [0034] Transition member  18  extends contiguously from juxtaposed upper portions of substrate engaging member  12  and tile engaging member  16 . As is best shown in FIG. 2, transition member  18  provides for a clean, finished transition between the edges of one or more tiles  28 , secondary substrate  22 , and primary substrate  20 . For purposes of the present disclosure, transition member  18  is preferably fabricated from a material which enables painting thereon. As such, transition member  18  may be painted or primed for painting. Alternatively, transition member  18  may remained unpainted—for example, the transition member may be fabricated from brushed or polished metal, such as aluminum stainless steel, or brass, to name a few, or from a natural or synthetic resin or composite. It will be understood that transition member  18  may be generally linear as is shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 , or, alternatively generally arcuate as is shown FIG. 4D.  
     [0035] As is shown in FIGS.  3 A- 3 C, a pair of tile edging strips  10  may become integrally associated within one another via connector  32 . Connector  32  can be used to mate a pair of tile edging strips near, for example, a corner area. Connector  32  includes one or more tabs  34 , which preferably comprise an outer peripheral geometry which mates with the inner peripheral geometry of slot  36 , which is cooperatively defined by substrate engaging member  12 , spacing support member  14 , and transition member  18  in FIG. 3A, and cooperatively defined by substrate engaging member  12 , tile engaging member  16 , and transition member  18  in FIGS. 3B and 3C. For purposes of the present disclosure, tabs and slots  34  and  36 , respectively, are shown as comprising substantially triangular and/or rectangular cross-sections. However, it will be understood that tabs  34  and slots  36  may be characterized by numerous other cross-sections that would be known to those having ordinary skill in the art having the present disclosure before.  
     [0036] Referring now to FIG. 4A, a cross-sectional schematic representation of a second embodiment of tile edging strip  10  is shown, which generally comprises substrate engaging member  12 , spacing support member  14 , tile engaging member  16 , transition member  18 , and lip member  38 . Lip member  38  serves as least two functions. First, lip member  38  provides structural support for floor applications, where the tile/tile edging strip interface may be exposed to substantial force by an individual walking over the same. Second, lip member  38  enables a tile installer to use flat, non-bull nosed tiles which can be substantially less expensive than fabricated bull-nose tiles. FIGS. 4B, 4C,  4 E, and  4 F disclose similar embodiments, which are void of spacing support member  14 . In such embodiments, substrate engaging member  12 , tile engaging member  16 , and transition member  18  define a channel for receiving secondary substrate  22 .  
     [0037] As is shown in FIG. 4C, substrate engaging member  12  may include a pointed or wedge-shaped end  21  which facilitates seeding of the substrate engaging member  12 , and, in turn, tile edging strip  10 , between primary substrate  20  and secondary substrate  22 . A conventional bonding agent  19  can be associated with tile edging strip  10  to secure the same to secondary substrate  22 , and also primary substrate  20 .  
     [0038] As is shown in FIG. 4G, an alternative embodiment comprises substrate engaging member  12 , spacing support member  14 , and transition member  18 , which protrudes to form lip member  38 . In this embodiment substrate engaging member  12 , spacing support member  14 , and transition member  18  define slot  36  for receiving a tab of a tile edging strip connector (See FIG. 3).  
     [0039] Referring now to FIG. 5, a perspective schematic representation of an additional alternative embodiment of tile edging strip  10  is shown, which generally comprises substrate engaging member  12 , tile engaging member  16 , and transition member  18 . In this embodiment tile engaging member  16 , transition member  18 , and primary substrate  20  define a channel for receiving secondary substrate  22 .  
     [0040] Another embodiment of the tile edging strip  10  is shown in FIGS. 6 a  and  6   b . In the embodiment shown, the tile edging strip comprises tile engaging member  16 , transition member  18  and lip member  38 . Tile engaging member  16  is positioned between tile  28  and secondary substrate  22 . Transition member  18  extends away from the tile engaging member to primary substrate  20 . The transition member spans the thickness of secondary substrate  22 . Lip member  38  extends away from tile engaging member  16  in a direction generally opposing transition member  18 . Preferably, lip member  38  spans the thickness of tile  28 . At one end of the transition member, substrate engaging member  12  is positioned. In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the substrate engaging member comprises an edge surface of the transition member. The edge surface is configured for bonding to the substrate, and, accordingly, may include surface variations (i.e, scores, bumps, etc.) to facilitate bonding.  
     [0041] As is shown in FIG. 6 a , the transition member and the lip member may be collinear wherein they extend outwardly in opposing directions from the tile engaging member and substantially perpendicular thereto. As is shown in FIG. 6 b , the transition member and the lip member may be angularly disposed relative to the tile engaging member at an angle other than a substantially right angle. Moreover, it is contemplated that the transition member and the lip member may be angularly (i.e., obliquely) disposed relative to each other (i.e., not collinear). The embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 a  and  6   b  are particularly useful when utilizing non-bull nose tile. It is likewise contemplated that lip member  38  and/or transition member  18  may comprise a arcuate or curved member, as is shown in FIG. 8.  
     [0042] Another embodiment of the tile edging strip is shown in FIGS. 6 c  as comprising transition member  18 , bonding agent  19  and filler engagement member  37 . Transition member  18  is generally positioned so as to span the distance between tile  28  and primary substrate  20 , covering the thickness of secondary substrate  22 . Furthermore, a substrate engaging member  12  is positioned at one end thereof. In the embodiment shown, the tile, the primary substrate, the secondary substrate and the tile define retention cavity  39 . Bonding agent  19  is positioned so as to substantially fill at least a portion of cavity  39 . The bonding agent may comprise any number of filler materials, including latex based filler materials, adhesive based filler materials, plaster or gypsum based filler materials, among others. Agent engagement member  37  extends away from transition member  18  such that, upon installation, the filler engagement member is firmly entrenched within filler material  19 . In turn, as the bonding agent hardens, the bonding agent and the agent engagement member become bonded together.  
     [0043] In the embodiment of FIG. 6 d , lip member  38  extends from transition member  18 . The lip member is configured so as to span the thickness of the tile. As such, a similar effect can be achieved as can be achieved with the embodiment of FIG. 6 c  without the added expense of utilizing bull nose tile. As with the embodiment of FIG. 6 c , the agent engagement member  37  firmly extends into bonding agent  19  within cavity  39 , and is bonded thereto.  
     [0044] Another embodiment of the tile edging strip is shown in FIG. 7 as comprising tile engaging member  16 , transition member  18  and attachment assembly  87 . In the embodiment illustrated, attachment assembly  87  comprises a swivel joint having protrusion  91  which is capable of rotational positioning within receiver  93 . With such an embodiment, the user is capable of positioning the tile engaging member in operable position. Next, the user can adjust the transition member about the attachment assembly, to obtain a desired orientation of the two components relative to each other and relative to the tile and the substrates (i.e., so that the substrate engaging member  12  firmly abuts the respective substrate). Such an embodiment is capable of adapting to irregular substrate configurations, and to minor inconsistencies and variations the underlying structure.  
     [0045] It will be understood that the components of tile edging strip  10  may be integrally or independently fabricated from numerous materials, including at least one of the group comprising woods, metals, natural resins, synthetic resins, composites, and mixtures thereof.  
     [0046] Tile edging strip  10  can be installed according to numerous methods including the following. First, substrate engaging member  12  of tile edging strip  10  is controllably applied to a primary substrate, and subsequently fastened to the primary substrate with fasteners and/or an adhesive. Next, a secondary substrate, such as backer board or cement board, is inserted into a predefined channel. The secondary substrate may then be secured to the primary substrate using conventional methods, including fasteners and/or adhesives. After the secondary substrate is secured to the primary substrate, one or more tiles can be applied to the secondary substrate and the tile engaging member using conventional methods—including applying adhesive to apertures associated with the tile engaging member. After the tiles are secured, grout or chalk is optionally applied into any spacing between the tiles themselves, the tiles and the transition member, the tiles and the lip member, as well as the transition member and the primary substrate.  
     [0047] It will be understood that while the above-identified method has been disclosed, for illustrative purposes only, numerous other methods are likewise contemplated for use including applying tile edging strip  10  before or after the secondary substrate has been applied to the primary substrate.  
     [0048] Use of tile edging strip  10  is highly desirous because conventional tile installation requires substantial labor in finishing “edges” of a particular installation. However, tile edging strip  10  enables an installer to quickly provide for a convenient and economical professional finish and transition from the tile edge to the primary substrate.  
     [0049] The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.