Improvements in or relating to Encaustic or similar Tiles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left. 14th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 16th Oct., 1897
Improvements in or relating to Encaustic or similar Tiles.
We, JOHN EDGAR HEATH, and JOHN JORDAN ADAMS, both of 49 Holborn Viaduct,
in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturer's Agents, do hereby declare the naturo
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to encaustic or similar tiles and has for its object to con-
struct the tiles so that they may readily be affixed to a wall, ceiling or other
partition, or floor either with or without cement.
The back of each tile is provided with one or more slots, capable of being
engaged with a nail screw or equivalent projecting from the partition. Each of
the slots at one end is large enough to pass over the head of the nail or equivalent
which is to support the tile, while at its other end it is reduced and preferably
undercut so as to retain the tile upon the nail.
In manufacturing the above described tiles, a metal plate is placed at the bottom
of the box in which the clay dust or other material is compressed. Upon the
upper surface of this plate are formed projections or cores, which correspond in
shape with the shape it is desired to impart to the slots in the tiles. The preferred
shape of these slots is what is generally known as "keyhole" the cores being
accordingly each provided with a circular and a straight portion in order to give
the slots this form.
The circular portion of each core is preferably bevelled round the edge the
straight portion however being undercut so as to appear as a dovetail in cross
section. It is obviously impossible to remove the cores from the compressed
tile, if both the circular and straight portions of the cores are formed in one, or
both rigidly attached to the plate, by reason of the undercut straight portions of
the cores engaging with the undercut portions of the slots. In order to get over
this difficulty the cores may be formed in two parts, the circular
and the straight portions, either of which is permanently fixed to the plate, while
the other is loose, being only retained in place by short pins engaging with holes
in une plate, or the pins may project from the plate and engage with holes in the
loose core. If the circular parts of the cores are fixed, the straight portions are
removed from the slots after the tile is taken from the box, whereas
if the straight portions are fixed, holes are preferably cut in the plate to allow of
the loose circular parts falling away through the plate when the latter is removed
together with the tile from the box, the cores fixed upon the plate being then
disengaged from the slots by a slight movement of the one upon the other.
If desired in this arrangement the circular cores may be attached to a second
plate placed beneath that carrying the straight cores, so as to enable the circular
cores to be easily returned to their places in the upper plate.
According to another arrangement the circular parts of the cores are fixed to
the plate and have slots cut in them from the back of the plate, into which tho
straight cores may be caused to slide by the action of raising the plate and tile
from the bottom of the box.

page_text: ments
The plate carrying the cores may be made of metal or other suitable material.
In affixing these tiles to a wall or other partition, it is essential that the nails
or screws upon which the tiles are supported, should all be driven into the wall
to a uniform depth in order to give a smooth appearance to the finished work. To
facilitate and ensure this a block of wood metal or other material is constructed
of a thickness equal to the depth of the slots in the tiles, a hole is bored in the
centre of this block and a segment cut from the latter so as to leave a passage to
the central hole; in using this dovice each screw or nail is inserted in the hole in
this block and then driven into the wall until the head is flush with the surface
of the block, which may then be removed and thus forms a gauge by means of
which the depth to which the screws are driven may be regulated.
The block may be mounted upon a suitable handle, and dises or other thin
blocks which can be readily attached to it,may be provided to enable the thickness
of the block to be altered according as the depth to which the screws or nails are
to be driven varies.
In a modification, to allow of all the nails or screws necessary for the support of
a single tile to be not only driven with accuracy to the necessary depth but also
placed at the correct distance apart in order to engage all the slots in the tile at
once, a template or gauge preferably of the same size as the tile has holes bored in
it corresponding in number and position to the slots in the back of the tile.
Stright grooves are cut from each of these holes to the edges of the template,
the grooves being all parallel to each other. In use the template is placed against
the surface upon which it is desired to attach the tile, and screws or nails are
driven through the holes in the template until their heads are flush with the surface
of the latter, the thickness of which corresponds to the depth of the slots in the tiles.
When all the nails are driven home the template can be removed by reason of
the slots leading to the various holes.
Dated this 20th day of November, 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.
тлев.
We, JOHN EDGAR HEATH, and JOHN JORDAN ADAMS, both of 49 Holborn Viaduct,
in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturer's Agents, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be 3
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:--
This invention relates to encaustic or similar tiles and has for its object to con-
struct the tiles so that they may readily be affixed to a wall, ceiling or other
partition, or floor either with or without cement,
The back of each tile is provided with one or more slots, capable of being 4
engaged with a nail screw or equivalent projecting from the partition. Each of
the slots at one end is large enough to pass over the head of the nail or equivalent
which is to support the tile, while at the other end it is reduced and preferably
undercut so as to retain the tile upon the nail.
In manufacturing the above described tiles, a metal plate is placed at the bottom 4
of the box in which the clay dust or other material is conipressed. Upon the
upper surface of this plate are formed projections or cores, which correspond in
shape with the shape it is desired to impart to the slots in the tiles. The preferred
shape of these slots is what is generally known as "keyhole" the cores being

page_text: accordingly ench provided with a circular and a straight portion in order to givo
the slots this form
The circular paron of each core is preferably bevelled round the edge the
straight portion hoever being undercut so as to appear as a dovetail in oross
section. It is obviously impossible to remove the cores from the compressed
tile, if hoth the circular and straigns portions of the cores engage with the under
cut portions of the slots. In order to get over this difficulty the cores may be
formed in two parts, the circular and straight portions, either of which is per-
manently fixed to the plate, while the other is loose, being only retained in place
by short pins engaging with holes in the plate, or the pins may project from the
plate and engage with holes in the loose core. If the circular parts of the cores are
fixed, the straight portions are removed from, the slots after the tile is taken from
the box, whereas, if the straight portions are fixed, holes are preferably cut in the
plate to allow of the loose circular parts falling away through the plate when the
latter is removed together with the tile from the box, the cores fixed upon the
plate being thon disengaged from the slots by a slight movement of the one upon
the other.
If desired in this arrangement the circular cores may be attached to a second
plate placed beneath that carrving the straight cores, so as to enable the circular
cores to be easily returned to their places in the upper plate.
According to another arrangement the circular parts of the cores are fixed to
the plate and fave slots cut in them fren the back of the plate, into which the
straight cores may be caused to slide by the action of raising the plate and tile
from the bottom of the box.
The plate carrying the cores may be made of metal or other suitable material.
In affixing these tiles to a wall or other partition, it is essential that the nails
or screws upon which the tiles are supported, should all be driven into the wall
to a uniform depta in order to give a smooth appearance to the finished work. To
facilitate and ensure this a block of wood metal or other material is constructed
of a thickness equal to the depth of the slots in the tiles, a hole is bored in the
centre of this block and a segment cut from the latter so as to leave a passage to
the central hole: in using this device each screw or nail is inserted in the hole in
this block and then driven into the wall until the head is flush with the surfaco
of the block, which may then he removed and thus forms a gauge by means of
which the depth to which the screws are driven may he regulated.
The block may be mounted upon a suitable handle, and discs or other thin
blocks which can be readily attached to it, may he provided to enable the thickness.
of the block to be altered according as the depth to which the screws or nails aro
to be driven varies.
In a modification, to allow of all the nails or screws necessary for the support of
a single tile to be not only driven with accuracy to the necessary depth but also
placed at the correct distance apart in order to engage all the slots in the tile at
once, a template or gauge preferably of the same size as the tile has holes bored in
it corresponding in number and position to the slots in the back of the tile,
Straight grooves are cut from each of these holes in the edges of the template,
the grooves being all parallel to each other. In use the template is placed against
the surface upon which it is desired to attach the tile, and screws or nails are
driven through the holes in the template until their heads are flush with the surface
of the latter, the thickness of which corresponds to the depth of the slots in the tile.
When all the nails are driven home the template can be removed by reason of
the slots leading to the various holes.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a plan of one of the improved tiles,
Fig. 2 is a section of the same on the line 2-2 Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 is a plan of the pattern plate employed in moulding the tiles.
Fig. 4 is a section of the same on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.
T:
La montion at a modified construction at nattern plate.

page_text: Fig. 6 is a section of the same on the line 6-0 of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a plan of the template employed for locking
retaining screws.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the gauge employed to
which the attaching screws are to be driven.
positions of the
gulate the depth to
Like letters indicate like parts through out the drawin
In the back of the tile A are moulded two or more picferably four slots or
recesses of key-hole, shape, which do not extend right through the tile. The
circular portion B of each slot is mado of smaller diameter at the bottom than at
the top while the tongue portion C is undercut at its sides and end as at C.
The pattern plate employed in moulding these tiles is provided with fixed
circular projections E and detachable undercut projections which are main-
tained in position on the pattern plate by pins F carried by them which engage
with holes in the plate D. It will thus be seen that after the clay dust or other
material of which the tiles are made has been compressed upon the pattern plate D,
when it is removed the undercut pieces are removed with it and then separately
slipped out from the undercut portions C of the slots in the hack of the tile. The
circular projections E are slightly hevelled or made of larger diameter at their
base than at the top in order to give the necessary shape to the circular recesses B.
In the modification shown in Fig. 5 and 6 the circular projections E are fixed
to the plate D and hollowed out to allow of the pieces F being slid into them after
the tile has been moulded upon the plate D. To allow of this the projections E
stand out from the plate 1) slightly more than the pieces F which are each provided
with a pin F, which passes through a slot D' in the plate D and projects from the
back of the latter. The ends of these pins may be connected together in some
suitable manner so that all the pieces F may be simultaneously slid within the
circular projections E. It will be seen that by this arrangement after the tile
has been moulded on the plate D it cannot he withdrawn until the pieces F have
been moved uder the circular projections E, so as to he quite clear of the under-
cut parts C of the slots in the tile. By this means the trouble of separately
removing the pieces F when mace detachable as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and
replacing these pieces upon the pattern plate is avoided. Any convenient means may
be employed for moving the pins and sliding the pirees F within the projections E
the process being performed either by haud or by machinery as found convenient.
If desired the position of the fixed and movable parts may be reversed, that is to
say, the undercut part F may be a fixture while the hollow part E is arranged to
slide over it, the whole tile in this case following or causing the movement.
In order to ensure accurate placing of the screws or nails upon which the tile is
hung the template shown in Fig. 7 may conveniently be employed. It comprises
a sheet G of metal wood or other suitable material shaped in accordance with the
shape of the tiles, in the putting up of which it is to he employed. The edges G1
of the plate, if the latter is made of metal. may be turned up. the plate being
perforated as at G with holes corresponding in number and position to the slats in
the backs of the tiles to be fixed. As the accuracy with which the tiles are fixed
to the wall or other hacking, depends upon the depth to which the screws or nails
which support them are driven, the gauge shown in Fig. 8 may conveniently be
utilised as by this means the depth to which the screws or nails are driven is
accurately regulated. The device consists of a piece H of metal or suitable
material in the ends of which are cut slots H H; the metal around these slots
is bevelled off or countersunk to allow of a screw or nail being driven through the
slot, until its head is flush with the surface of the plate H. The two slots differ
slightly in size, one hring intended for use with screws and the other with nails.
It is obvious that the shape and construction of the template G and also the
gange may be varied considerably as desired.
The method of fixing a tile is as follows:-
The template Gis first placed against the wall or hacking upon which the tiles.
are to be fixed, and the holes for the recention of the screws or nails bored through

page_text: the holes G; threws or nails are then driven in to the required depth being
regulated by the ge H, after which the tile is placed against the wall so that
the heads of the so ws lie in the circular parts B of the key-hole slots in its back
and is then slid dowards until the heads of the supporting screws or nails lie
within the undercu parts C of the slots.
Having now part. Sularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
-
1. A tile with slots or recesses such as B C moulded in the back for the purpose
O described.
2. A pattern plate provided with detachable or moveable and fixed projections
for moulding undercut slots in encaustic or similar tiles, substantially as described.
3. Attaching a tile to a wall or backing in the manner described.
4. The tile substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the
5 accompanying drawings.
5. The complete pattern plate for tiles substantially as described and illustrated
in Figures 3 and 4 or Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
6. A gauge such as II III substantially as aud for the purpose described.
100%
JOHN EDGAR HEATH.
JOHN JORDAN ADAMS.
49 Holborn Viaduct, E.C.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicants.
JOHN EDGAR HEATH.
JOHN JORDAN ADAMS.
49 Holborn Viaduct, E.C.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicants.