Patent Publication Number: US-7712271-B2

Title: Tiled transition bracket

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In the field of surface covering installation, it can be desirable and/or beneficial to provide transitions between the surface coverings of surfaces forming inside corners. Such inside corners are often at right angles, although inside corners can include surfaces joining at angles greater than or less than ninety degrees. Examples of surfaces forming inside corners include, a wall surface forming an inside corner with another wall surface, a wall surface forming an inside corner with a floor surface, a wall surface forming an inside corner with a ceiling surface, and a backsplash surface forming an inside corner with a countertop surface, among others. 
     Providing transitions between the surface coverings (e.g., tiles and other types of wall coverings) of surfaces forming inside corners can be aesthetically pleasing and/or can provide sanitary benefits by making the inside corner area easier to clean. In some circumstances (e.g., in commercial kitchens and/or bathrooms), an angled or curved transition between the surface coverings may be dictated by sanitation codes. 
     As an example, one method of providing a transition between a tiled wall surface and a tiled floor surface includes using cove base tiles. Such cove base tiles are often formed with at least a portion of the tile being formed in a curved shape. Forming the integral curve of a cove base tile can create added time and expense in the manufacturing of the tile. 
     As such, many tile manufacturers may not produce cove base tiles and/or may only provide cove base tiles in a limited amount of colors, sizes, and/or shapes. In such situations, one desiring to have a particular tile cove base installed may be unable to obtain the particular base or may only be able to obtain it after added expense. 
     Another method of providing a transition between a tiled floor and wall includes using a floor molding or profiled strip for forming a transition bridge between the floor and the wall. In such cases, the transition bridges are composed of flexible materials such as plastic or metal which remains undesirably exposed at the corner. As such, the transition bridges of these floor moldings and/or profiled strips are often of a second or third material or color/style and, therefore, do not provide uniformity/style continuity between the surface coverings (e.g., tiles) of surfaces forming inside corners. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a bracket for forming a tiled transition according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a tiled transition formed using the bracket of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 1C  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a tiled transition formed using the bracket of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a cross-sectional view of another type of bracket for forming a tiled transition according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a tiled transition formed using the bracket of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a tiled transition using a bracket embodiment in accordance with present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a tiled transition using a bracket embodiment in accordance with present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure includes various method and device embodiments for forming a tiled transition by using a tiled transition bracket. One device embodiment includes a bracket for forming a tiled transition between a first surface and a second surface, the first and second surfaces forming an inside corner. 
     In such an embodiment, the bracket can include a first base portion securable to the first surface and a second base portion securable to the second surface. The bracket embodiment includes a receiving slot angled with respect to the first and second surfaces for receiving a tile strip, where the tile strip is permanently secured in the receiving slot to form the tiled transition between the first and second surfaces. 
     The first and/or second surfaces can include surface coverings such as various types of tiled coverings (e.g., ceramic tiles or wood tiles), among various other types of surface coverings. In various embodiments, the first surface covering can be different than the second surface covering. For instance, the first surface covering can be a ceramic tile covering and the second surface covering can be a wood surface covering. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a bracket  100  for forming a tiled transition according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 1B  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a tiled transition  101  formed using the bracket of  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 1C  illustrates a perspective view of a tiled transition  101  formed using bracket  100 . 
     Various bracket embodiments of the present disclosure (e.g., bracket  100 ) can be formed of various materials including PVC (polyvinyl chloride), nylon plastic, carbon fiber, aluminum, and/or rubber, among various other materials. The various bracket embodiments can be formed via processes such as extrusion, molding, or machining, among other processes. 
     As such, bracket embodiments can have various lengths. For instance, the bracket  100  can be the length of a surface covering such as a tile (e.g., 4 inches, 6 inches, 12 inches, or 16 inches, among other lengths). In other embodiments, the bracket  100  can be formed in segments, (e.g. 2 foot, 4 foot, 6 foot, or 10 foot segments) such that the bracket is as long as several surface covering pieces (e.g., several tiles). 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1C , the bracket  100  includes a first base portion  110  securable to a first surface  102 - 1  (e.g., a wall, as shown) and a second base portion  112  securable to a second surface  102 - 2  (e.g., a floor, as shown) forming an inside corner  105 . In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1C , the inside corner between the first and second surface forms a right angle. 
     However, embodiments are neither limited to a particular first and/or second surface nor to inside corners forming right angles. For instance, the first and second surfaces can both be wall surfaces (e.g., wall surfaces forming a vertical inside corner). 
     The first and/or second surfaces  102 - 1  and  102 - 2  can also be a ceiling surface, a countertop surface, a backsplash surface, among other surfaces. The inside corner  105  can be at an angle greater than or less than a right angle. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1C , the bracket  100  includes a receiving slot  120  angled with respect to the first and second surfaces  102 - 1  and  102 - 2  and located between first and second base portions  110  and  112 . In such embodiments, the bracket  100  can include a single slot  120  that is defined by engagement surfaces  122 ,  124 - 1 , and  124 - 2 . In various embodiments, and as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2B , the bracket can include more than one receiving slot (e.g., 2, 3, 4, or more). 
     The receiving slot illustrated in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C  is angled at 45 degrees with respect to the surface  102 - 1  and  102 - 2  (e.g., the tiled transition  101  forms an interior transition angle of 135 degrees with respect to the surfaces  102 - 1  and  102 - 2 ). As the reader will appreciate, various other transition angles can be used in the embodiments of the present disclosure (e.g., the receiving slot  120  can be oriented at various other angles). 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C , the bracket  100  also includes a number of channels or grooves  115  in base portions  110  and  112 . The channels  115  can be beneficial for ensuring secure bonding of bracket  100  to the surfaces  102 - 1  and  102 - 2  via a suitable bonding material such as a thin-set mortar or other adhesive bonding material. 
     In various embodiments, the bracket  100  can be mechanically fixed to surfaces  102 - 1  and/or  102 - 2 . For example, embodiments can be nailed and/or screwed to the surfaces in addition to or in substitution for an adhesive material. 
     In various embodiments, the bracket can include one or more legs extending parallel to the first and/or second surface. In such embodiments, at least a portion of the one or more legs can be covered by a surface covering (e.g., a tile covering) of the surface. 
     For instance the bracket  100  includes a first leg  107 - 1  extending parallel to the first surface  102 - 1  and a second leg  107 - 2  extending parallel to the second surface  102 - 2 . As shown in  FIG. 1B , a portion of the first leg  107 - 1  is covered by surface covering  104 - 1  and a portion of the second leg  107 - 2  is covered by a second surface covering  104 - 2 . 
     In various embodiments, the legs  107 - 1  and/or  107 - 2  can be secured to the respective surface  102 - 1  and  102 - 2  via a thin-set mortar  111 , other adhesive bonding material, and/or a mechanical fastening mechanism, such as one or more screws and/or nails. In some embodiments, the legs can include channels (e.g., channels  115 ) or can be perforated to facilitate mechanical bonding to surface  102 - 1  and/or  102 - 2 . As discussed above, the legs  107 - 1  and  107 - 2  may also be secured to the surfaces  102 - 1  and  102 - 2  via fasteners (e.g., screws, nails, and/or staples) in addition to, or in lieu of an adhesive bonding material. 
     The engagement surface (e.g.,  122  of receiving slot  120 ) can also include channels (e.g., similar to channels  115 ) therein that can be used to securely bond a tile strip  130  to the bracket  100 . The channels can have various different shapes and configurations to facilitate a mechanical bond between the transition bracket and a surface (e.g., surface  102 - 1  and  102 - 2 ) and/or between the transition bracket and a tile strip (e.g., tile strip  130 ). 
     In some embodiments, the engagement surfaces  122 ,  124 - 1 , and/or  122 - 2  can be modified (e.g., treated or manipulated with tools) to facilitate an adequate bond of a thin-set or other bonding material to the bracket. For example, in some embodiments, the adhesion properties of a surface can be improved by exposure to heat, one or more chemicals, and/or other treatment techniques. In some embodiments, a surface can be manipulated, such as by etching or sanding to improve the adhesion properties of the surface. 
     In some embodiments, the engagement surfaces  122 ,  124 - 1 , and/or  122 - 2  can include a bonding material such as a fiberglass coating or other bonding material to facilitate a suitable bond of the tile strip  130  in the receiving slot  120 . For example, in some embodiments, the bracket can be made of PVC, in which some types of thin-set mortar may not adequately bond to. 
     In such instances, portions of, or the entire, bracket can be coated with a bonding agent or intermediate material to facilitate an adequate bond of a thin-set or other bonding material to the bracket. In this manner, a tile strip can be permanently secured to the bracket by using a thin-set mortar or other bonding material. 
     For example, an intermediate material can be a material having better adhesion qualities than PVC, with respect to the adhesion of thin-set material. The intermediate material can be adhered to the PVC in any suitable manner and the tile can then be adhered using thin-set adhesive material to the intermediate material. Such techniques can be utilized for other types of suitable adhesive materials by using a suitable intermediate material to provide a suitable surface for adhering the tile. 
     The receiving slot  120  of bracket  100  and tile strip  130 , to be secured therein, can have various sizes. As an example, the slot  120  can have a width (e.g., a distance between engagement surface  124 - 1  and engagement surface  124 - 2 ) of about 0.5 inches to 1.75 inches to accommodate a tile strip having a width of about the same size. Embodiments are not so limited to a particular width dimension of the tile receiving slot and/or tile strip and can be considerably larger or smaller. 
     In various embodiments, more than one tile strip can be placed in a receiving slot (e.g., slot  120 ). For example, two tile strips could be secured in receiving slot  120 . In such embodiments, the tile strips can include a space (e.g., a grout joint) therebetween. For instance, if the receiving slot had a width of about 1.75 inches, the two tile strips could each have a width of about 0.75 inches with a grout joint of about 0.25 inches between the strips. 
     In various embodiments, the tile strip can be permanently bonded (e.g., permanently secured) in a receiving slot prior to installation of the bracket (e.g., before the bracket  100  is permanently secured to surfaces  102 - 1  and  102 - 2 ). In some embodiments, the bracket  100  can be secured to the surfaces  102 - 1  and  102 - 2  prior to the securing of tile strip  130  within receiving slot  120 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the bracket  100  and tile strip  130  secured thereto form a tiled transition  101  between a number of first surface covering elements  104 - 1  and a number of second surface covering elements  104 - 2 . In such embodiments, the tiled transition  101  can be between two tile surfaces (e.g., tile covering  104 - 1  on wall surface  102 - 1  and tile covering  104 - 2  on floor surface  102 - 2 ). The tile coverings  104 - 1  and  104 - 2  can be permanently secured to the respective surfaces  102 - 1  and  102 - 2  via a bonding material  111  (e.g., a thin-set mortar, mastic, glue, or other adhesive material). 
     In some embodiments, the tile strip may be the same type of tile as tile coverings. For example, a tile strip can be cut from one or more of the tiles used to cover the surfaces (e.g., surface  102 - 1  and/or  102 - 2 ) using a suitable cutting device (e.g., a wet or dry tile saw). In some embodiments, the tile strip can be formed to a suitable size during manufacture. 
     In various embodiments, the tile strip used to form the tiled transition can be a different type of material than tile  104 - 1  and/or  104 - 2  and/or may have a different color. As an example, the tile  104 - 1  and/or  104 - 2  may be a material such as slate or marble, while the tile strip  130  can be a material such as granite, among various other materials. 
     In various embodiments, and as shown in  FIG. 1C , the tile strip  130  can have a length that is the same as the length of the tiles  104 - 1  and/or  104 - 2 . In such embodiments, the tiled transition  101  can be formed such that a continuous grout joint (e.g., a grout joint  142 ) occurs between surface coverings  104 - 1  and  104 - 2 . 
     A grout joint refers to a gap between individual tiles and/or tile strips that can be filled with a filler material (e.g., a sanded or unsanded grout material). In some embodiments, the tile strips  130  can be staggered and/or have a length different than surface covering  104 - 1  and/or  104 - 2  such that grout joint  142  is not continuous (e.g., straight) between the two surface coverings. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1B and 1C , a grout joint  140  is depicted between the tile strip  130  and the surface coverings  104 - 1  and  104 - 2 . In some embodiments, the surface coverings adjacent the tile strip  130  (e.g., tile  104 - 1  and  104 - 2  in the example of  FIGS. 1B and 1C ) may abut the tile strip such that no grout joint  140  exists. 
     In some embodiments (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 4 ) one or both of the first and second base portions (e.g.,  110  and  112 ) may include a spacer member located a distance from the receiving slot (e.g.,  120 ). In such embodiments, the spacer member can extend out from a base portion of the bracket (e.g., perpendicular to the surface (e.g.,  102 - 1  and  102 - 2 ) to which the base portion is secured). 
     As described below, the spacer member can be used to maintain a grout joint (e.g.,  140 ) between a tile strip (e.g.,  130 ) and a surface covering (e.g.,  104 - 1  and  104 - 2 ). The spacer member can also be used as a support member to support one or more surface coverings (e.g., tiles) as other surface coverings are secured to a surface (e.g., a wall surface). Such embodiments can therefore, provide support to tile mounted vertically, for example, which may aid in mounting tile and in the length of time needed for adhesion. 
     Also, the support member may provide a straight surface for guiding the placement of tile on a surface. As such, some embodiments may aid in the speed of tile placement, among other benefits. 
     In various embodiments, the bracket  100  can be designed to be unviewable when the tiled transition  101  has been grouted (e.g., when grout joints  140  and  142  have received a filler material therein). The unviewable nature of such embodiments can be desirable and/or beneficial. For instance, one desiring to have a tiled transition (e.g., tiled transition  101 ) between two tiled surfaces (e.g., tiled surfaces  102 - 1  and  102 - 1 ) may not want to have a viewable transition made of a material other than a tile material (e.g., a material such as a metal or plastic). 
     In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  and described below, a portion of the bracket may be visible when the tiled transition has been grouted. As described below, in such embodiments, the visible portion of the bracket may be a portion of one or more spacer or support members of the bracket. 
     The visible portion may be made of various materials such as metals or colored plastics and can provide a profile strip in place of one or more grout joints (e.g., joints  140 ). Such profile strips can be designed to be decorative in nature, in some embodiments. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates a cross-sectional view of another type of bracket  200  for forming a tiled transition according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2B  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a tiled transition  201  between a first surface  202 - 1  and a second surface  202 - 2  formed using the bracket of  FIG. 2A . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the first and second surfaces include respective surface coverings  204 - 1  and  204 - 2  secured thereto. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-2B , the bracket  200  includes a first base portion  210  securable to the first surface  202 - 1  (e.g., a wall, as shown) and a second base portion  212  securable to the second surface  202 - 2  (e.g., a floor, as shown) forming an inside corner  205 . 
     In various embodiments, the bracket can include a number of receiving slots between the first and second base portions for receiving tile strips to form the tiled transition  201 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the bracket  200  includes three receiving slots  220 - 1 ,  220 - 2 , and  220 - 3  for receiving tile strips  230 - 1 ,  230 - 2 , and  230 - 3 , respectively. The receiving slots are each angled with respect to the first and second base portions  210  and  212 . In various embodiments, and as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the receiving slots can each be angled with respect to each other. 
     In various embodiments, the tiled transition can be a coved (e.g., rounded) transition. That is, the tile strips can form a coved transition when secured in the receiving slots. 
     The radius of curvature of the tiled transition can depend on various factors such as the number of receiving slots in the bracket and/or the width of the receiving slots and/or the tile strips, among various other factors. For instance, in some embodiments, the coved transition can have a radius of curvature of, for example, more than ⅜ inch. Such embodiments may be beneficial in use where health codes enforcing such cove radius regulations are enforced, such as in restaurants and other establishments. 
     In various embodiments, the bracket can include one or more spacer members formed between the receiving slots. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 2A  and  2 B, the bracket  200  includes a first spacer member  228 - 1  formed between receiving slots  220 - 1  and  220 - 2  and a second spacer member  228 - 2  formed between receiving slots  220 - 2  and  220 - 3 . 
     The size and/or shape of the spacer members  228 - 1  and  228 - 2  can any suitable dimension. In various embodiments, the spacer members can be used to maintain a particular grout joint (e.g., grout joint  241 ) between tile strips (e.g., tile strips  230 - 1  to  230 - 3 ). The width of the grout joint can, for example, be ⅛ inch, 3/16 inch, or ¼ inch, among other widths. 
     In various embodiments, (and, as described in connection with  FIG. 4 ) at least one of a first base portion and second base portion of the bracket can include a spacer member for maintaining a gap between one of the tile strips and a covering (e.g., a tile) of the surface to which the base portion is secured. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the base portion  210  secured to wall surface  202 - 1  can include a spacer member (e.g., spacer member  426 - 1  shown in  FIG. 4 ) for maintaining a gap  240  (e.g., a grout joint) between tile strip  230 - 1  and tile  204 - 1 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the bracket  200  also includes a number of channels or grooves  215  in base portions  210  and  212  and in receiving slots  220 - 1  to  220 - 3  that can be used for ensuring secure bonding of bracket  200  to the surfaces  202 - 1  and  202 - 2  and/or of tile strips  220 - 1  to  220 - 3  to the bracket  200 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a tiled transition  301  using a bracket embodiment  300  in accordance with present disclosure. The tiled transition  301  is a tiled transition between a first surface covering  304 - 1  of a first surface  302 - 1  and a second covering  304 - 2  of a second surface  302 - 2 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the first surface covering  304 - 1  and the second surface covering  304 - 2  are tiles secured to respective surfaces with a bonding material  311  (e.g., thin-set mortar, glue, mastic, etc.). 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the bracket  300  includes a first base portion  310  securable to the first surface  302 - 1  (e.g., a wall, as shown) and a second base portion  312  securable to the second surface  302 - 2  (e.g., a floor, as shown). The bracket  300  also includes a number of grooves  315  that can facilitate bonding of the bracket to the surfaces  302 - 1  and  302 - 2  and/or bonding of a tile strip  330  to the receiving slot of bracket  300 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the bracket  300  includes two spacer members  342 - 1  and  342 - 2  that maintain a gap between tile strip  330  and the adjacent tile coverings  304 - 1  and  304 - 2 , respectively. The spacer members  342 - 1  and  342 - 2  can also be used as a support member to prevent one or more surface coverings (e.g., tile  304 - 1 ) from sliding down a wall due to gravity when the surface covering is being installed, for example. Such surfaces can also be used as a guide for setting a covering on a surface, as discussed above. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the spacer members  342 - 1  and  342 - 2  are viewable when the tiled transition  301  has been grouted. The visible portion may be made of various materials such as metals or colored plastics and can provide a profile strip in place of one or more grout joints (e.g., joints  140  shown in  FIG. 1C ). 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a tiled transition  401  using a bracket embodiment  400  in accordance with present disclosure. The tiled transition  401  is a tiled transition between a first surface covering  404 - 1  of a first surface  402 - 1  and a second covering  404 - 2  of a second surface  402 - 2 . In the embodiment for  FIG. 4 , the first surface covering  404 - 1  and the second surface covering  404 - 2  are tiles secured to respective surfaces with a bonding material  411  (e.g., thin-set mortar, glue, mastic, etc.). 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the bracket  400  includes a first base portion  410  securable to the first surface  402 - 1  (e.g., a wall, as shown) and a second base portion  412  securable to the second surface  402 - 2  (e.g., a different wall, as shown). The bracket  400  also includes a number of grooves  415  that can facilitate bonding of the bracket to the surfaces  402 - 1  and  402 - 2  and/or bonding of a tile strip  430  to the receiving slot of bracket  400 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the first and second base portions  410  and  412  include a spacer member  426 - 1  and  426 - 2 , respectively. The spacer members  426 - 1  and  426 - 2  are located a distance from the receiving slot of bracket  400  and extend out from base portions  410  and  412 . 
     The spacer members can be used to maintain a grout joint  440  between tile strip  430  and surface coverings  404 - 1  and  404 - 2 . The spacer members can also be used as a support member to support one or more surface coverings as described above. In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the spacer members  426 - 1  and  426 - 2  are perpendicular to the respective surfaces  402 - 1  and  402 - 2 , but embodiments are not limited to perpendicularly extending spacer members. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the bracket  401  includes a first leg  407 - 1  extending parallel to the first surface  402 - 1  and a second leg  407 - 2  extending parallel to the second surface  402 - 2 . The first leg  407 - 1  is covered by surface covering  404 - 1  and the second leg  407 - 2  is covered by a second surface covering  404 - 2 . 
     The legs  407 - 1  and/or  407 - 2  can be secured to the respective surface  402 - 1  and  402 - 2  via a suitable bonding material  411 . In some embodiments, the legs can include channels (e.g., channels  415 ) or can be perforated to facilitate mechanical bonding to the surface. The legs  407 - 1  and  407 - 2  may also be secured to the surfaces  402 - 1  and  402 - 2  via screws and/or staples in addition to, or in lieu of an adhesive bonding material, as discussed above. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that an arrangement calculated to achieve the same results can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover adaptations or variations of various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     It is to be understood that the above description has been made in an illustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one. Combination of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. 
     The scope of the various embodiments of the present disclosure includes other applications in which the above structures and methods are used. Therefore, the scope of various embodiments of the present disclosure should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure have to use more features than are expressly recited in each claim. 
     Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.