Patent Publication Number: US-2007107373-A1

Title: Installation grid

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to tiling systems and in particular to a grid system to be applied to a wall for simplifying the registration of tiles.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Tile floors or tile walls are typically installed using a rectangular grid type system that requires approximate registration of adjacent tiles. It is important to control both the precise location of a rectangular or other shaped tile as well as the spacing between adjacent tiles. It is common to use tile spacers which are of a cross type configuration and are used at the corners of the tiles to appropriately space adjacent tiles.  
      Existing tile alignment systems work satisfactory for professional or experienced tradesman however there is a learning curve associated with the installation of tiles and the ability to appropriately space and install the tiles. There are many applications particularly for the home handyman type that the existing tile alignment systems do not result in a consistent installation. There is often a considerable variation associated with the tiles initially installed compared to the tiles installed at the end of the project. This factor can also deter a home handyman type from initiating a tiling project on his own.  
      The present invention provides a tile alignment system which is simple to use and allows accurate placement of tiles in a quick and efficient manner.  
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
      A tile insert grid according to the present invention comprises a molded plastic grid having a series of cells with each cell forming a peripheral frame about a tile receiving open center. The grid includes peripheral edge portions adapted to cooperate with peripheral edge portions of a like tile insert grid to provide an expanded grid having the same spacing between cells including cells at an abutment between like tile insert grids.  
      In an aspect of the invention the tile receiving grid is sufficiently resilient to be rolled upon itself for storage or shipping.  
      In an aspect of the invention the grid is adapted to receive and locate at least 24 tiles.  
      The invention is also directed to the tile insert grid in combination with predetermined tiles wherein said grid is of a thickness less than half the thickness of the predetermined tiles.  
      In a further aspect of the invention the time insert grid is adapted to receive rectangular tiles or square tiles.  
      In a different aspect of the invention the tile insert grid includes a top portion two side portions and a bottom portion and the grid is disposed at a 45° angle relative to the top portion.  
      In an aspect of the invention the tile insert grid includes a top portion two side portions and a bottom portion and the grid includes a series of interior grid members of an equal width terminating at the top portion, the two side portions or the bottom portion at a grid member of half the width of the interior grid members.  
      A method of installing tiles according to the present invention comprises securing one or more tile receiving grids to a support surface in an aligned desired orientation for receiving tiles in cells of the one or more tile receiving grids, using the secured tile receiving grids as a guide to accurately locate tiles one to the other by using an adhesive to secure tiles within the cells of the one or more tile receiving grids with said grids being of a reduced thickness relative to the tiles, and applying grout between adjacent tiles and above grid members of the tile receiving grids. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The above as well as other advantages and features of the present invention will be described in greater detail according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention in which;  
       FIG. 1  is partial perspective view of two abutting walls about to be tiled;  
       FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the two abutting walls with a tile receiving grid about to be applied to one wall;  
       FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view showing two tile receiving grids applied to the walls to be tiled;  
       FIG. 4  is a vertical sectional view showing the grid being applied to a wall;  
       FIG. 5  is a vertical sectional view showing tiles being applied to the wall with the grid in place;  
       FIG. 6  is a vertical sectional of a wall with the tiles located in the grid;  
       FIG. 7  shows a vertical sectional of a wall with the tiles in place and grouting being provided between the tiles;  
       FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view showing the peripheral edge members of the grid;  
       FIG. 9  is a schematic view showing the placement and securement of the grids relative to a previously secured grid;  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the grid for use with rectangular tiles;  
       FIG. 11  shows a grid for use with rectangular tiles with the long dimensioned orientated horizontally; and  
       FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of the grid for use with tiles on a diagonal. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION ACCORDING TO THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION IN WHICH  
       FIG. 1  shows two abutting walls  2  to which tiles are to be applied. The walls each include a horizontal starting line  4  which has been penciled on the wall.  
      In  FIG. 2  the tile receiving grid  6  is about to be applied to one of the walls  2 . The top edge of the tile receiving grid  6  is placed on the horizontal start line  4 . Typically a suitable adhesive is applied to that portion of the wall section to allow the grid to be secured to the wall. The tile receiving grid is an injection molded product whereby the precision with respect to the grid is assured.  
      In  FIG. 3  two tile receiving grids  6  have been applied to the two abutting walls  2  and tiles  8  are about to be inserted into two adjacent cells in the grid. It is clear from  FIG. 3  that the grid can basically be aligned with the top horizontal start line  4  and in this case be also approximately aligned with the inside corner between the two abutting walls  2 . With this arrangement, the tile receiving grids  6  can be secured to the wall much in the way of wall paper. It is also possible to use a vertical aligning edge to properly align the vertical edge of the grid.  
       FIGS. 4 through 7  show the various steps for tiling of a wall. As shown in  FIG. 4 a  suitable adhesive  10  is applied to the wall  2  and the tile receiving grid is applied to the wall. Once the tile receiving grid  6  has been secured to the wall as shown in  FIG. 5 a  tile, cement or adhesive can either be applied within the cells of the grid or to the back of the tile  8 . This is the same adhesive that would be used for any conventional tiling application. The tile  8  is then inserted into one of the cells of the tile receiving grid  6 . The tile receiving grid  6  and the cells thereof have a close fit with the periphery of the tile and some deformation and/or compression of the grid may occur. As shown in  FIG. 6  the tiles have been received within the tile receiving grid and are maintained in securement with the wall  2  by means of the tile cement  12 . The height of the tile receiving grid is relatively shallow and less than the thickness of the tiles  8 . The difference in these dimensions is sufficient to allow the tile grout  14  to be applied in a normal manner. Thus the tile receiving grid  6  remains in place trapped beneath the tile grout  14 .  
      Preferably, the tile receiving grid includes a rough or etched surface to provide better adhesion with the grout. The mold cavities for forming the grid can be roughened to provide the textured surface to the time receiving grid.  
       FIGS. 8 and 9  show certain details of the tile receiving grid  6 . The tile receiving grid  6  includes a left side peripheral member  20 , a top peripheral member  22 , a right side peripheral member  26  and a bottom peripheral member  24 . These peripheral members are half the width of the interior grid members  28 . As shown in  FIG. 9  this allows the grids to be abutted one against the other and to provide proper spacing between tiles of adjacent tile receiving grid sections.  FIG. 9  also illustrates how the various tile receiving grids are secured one to the other. In this case, the tile receiving grid  6  provided in the top left position has already been secured and the additional grid members are brought into registration with this previously secured grid. In this way, the continuation of the grid system is easily accomplished and the spacing between adjacent grid members is the same as within adjacent cells of the grid.  
       FIGS. 10, 11  and  12  show examples of different grids cell size. The grid members of the earlier figures were of a square cell shape whereas the cell size in  FIG. 10  is rectangular. In this case, the cell has a longer vertical dimension than the horizontal dimension. In contrast in  FIG. 11  the tile receiving grid  6  is adapted to receive the brick like tiles  8 . In  FIG. 12  an alternate grid arrangement is provided shown as  6   a  which is for installing tiles on a diagonal. Once again the top edges of the brick can be aligned with a horizontal start line and the system works essentially similar to those of the earlier figures. The tile receiving grid  6   a  is designed to cooperate with a similar tile receiving grid to complete any of the cells only partially formed at the periphery thereof. In this case, the outer peripheral member of the grid are of the same thickness as the interior grid members.  
      The system has been described with respect to securing of the grid to a wall and in association with at least a horizontal start line and possibly in combination with a vertical start line. The grid system is also suitable for use for floors and the user can mark on the floor a desired start line and the particular position thereof.  
      With the present invention the tile receiving grid effectively acts as a template to allow the convenient and accurate placement of tiles. The tile receiving grid is made of a plastic and is secured to the support surface using an appropriate adhesive. Depending upon the type of plastic the cell size and tile size may result in a partial interference fit with the grid marginally compressing. The separation between adjacent cells will determine the width of the grout lines. Preferably, the grid will allow for a one eighth of an inch grout line.  
      In one embodiment using one eight inch grout line the tile receiving grid is of a length of three feet and three quarters of an inch with a width of two feet and one and half inches and is of a depth of one eighth of an inch. This pattern size can be used for securing of tiles which are 6 inches by 4 inches or 6 inches by 8 inches. As can be appreciated the cell size of the grid will be selected based on the size of the tile to be installed.  
      It has been found that this tile receiving grid allows a convenient and accurate method for simplifying the installation of tiles in a cost effective manner.  
      Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.