U.S. patent application number 14/794192 was filed with the patent office on 2016-01-14 for system, method and device for floor and wall tile installation.
The applicant listed for this patent is David Deangelis. Invention is credited to David Deangelis.
Application Number | 20160010341 14/794192 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55067181 |
Filed Date | 2016-01-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160010341 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Deangelis; David |
January 14, 2016 |
SYSTEM, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FLOOR AND WALL TILE INSTALLATION
Abstract
An installation device for installing a plurality of tiles to a
supporting surface without grout is provided. The installation
device may include a generally planar base sheet forming a
predetermined pattern of ridges, wherein intersecting ridges form a
perimeter defining a tile cavity. The base sheet may form an
adhesive opening within each tile cavity. A suitable adhesive may
fill each adhesive opening so as to adhere the base sheet to the
supporting surface as well as provide an adhesive region within
each tile cavity for a predetermined tile received therein, whereby
the ridges provide the joint between adjacent tiles.
Inventors: |
Deangelis; David;
(Centereach, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Deangelis; David |
Centereach |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55067181 |
Appl. No.: |
14/794192 |
Filed: |
July 8, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62022083 |
Jul 8, 2014 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/389 ;
52/747.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 15/02044 20130101;
E04F 15/08 20130101; E04F 15/02194 20130101; E04F 15/02155
20130101; E04F 15/0215 20130101; E04F 13/0889 20130101; E04F
13/0887 20130101; E04F 13/0885 20130101; E04F 13/142 20130101; E04F
13/0862 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04F 13/08 20060101
E04F013/08; E04F 15/02 20060101 E04F015/02 |
Claims
1. An installation device for installing tiles to a supporting
surface without grout, comprising: a generally planar base sheet
having a first side and an opposing second side; a plurality of
ridges formed along the first side in a grid-like pattern; at least
one tile cavity, each tile cavity defined along its perimeter by
intersecting ridges; and at least one adhesive opening formed
within the base sheet, communicating the first and second sides,
wherein each adhesive opening is disposed within each of the at
least one tile cavity.
2. The installation device of claim 1, further comprising an
adhesive substantially filling each adhesive opening, forming an
adhesive region disposed within each tile cavity.
3. The installation device of claim 1, wherein the installation
device is an unitary construction of recyclable material.
4. The installation device of claim 1, further comprising a
predetermined tile snugly received within each tile cavity so as to
adhere to the adhesive region.
5. An installation system for installing tiles to a supporting
surface without grout, comprising: an installation device
comprising: a generally planar base sheet having a first side and
an opposing second side; a plurality of ridges formed along the
first side in a grid-like pattern; at least one tile cavity, each
tile cavity defined along its perimeter by intersecting ridges; and
at least one adhesive opening formed within the base sheet,
communicating the first and second sides, wherein each adhesive
opening is disposed within each of the at least one tile cavity; an
adhesive for filling each adhesive opening so as to form an
adhesive region therein; and at least one predetermined tile
dimensioned and adapted to snugly be received within each tile
cavity and contact its adhesive region, wherein the installation
device is an unitary construction of recyclable material.
6. The installation system of claim 5, wherein the recyclable
material is colorable.
7. A method of installing tiles to a supporting surface without
grout, comprising the steps of: providing an installation device
comprising: a generally planar base sheet having a first side and
an opposing second side; a plurality of ridges formed along the
first side in a grid-like pattern; at least one tile cavity, each
tile cavity defined along its perimeter by intersecting ridges; and
at least one adhesive opening formed within the base sheet,
communicating the first and second sides, wherein each adhesive
opening is disposed within each of the at least one tile cavity;
overlaying the second side on the supporting surface; filling each
adhesive opening with an adhesive, forming an adhesive region
extending from the supporting wall to at least the first side; and
placing a predetermined tile snugly within each tile cavity so as
to adhere to its respective adhesive region.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S.
provisional application number 62/022,083, filed 8, Jul. 2014, the
contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to floor and wall tile
installation and, more particularly, to a system that embodies a
method and device for installing aligned floor and wall tiles
without grout.
[0003] Current devices and methods for installing floor and wall
tiles include filling grout in the joints between adjacent tiles
and maybe using a device that temporarily guides the tiles into
place, and then the device is removed so the grout can harden. Such
methods and devices are labor intensive and have inherent
grout-related drawbacks, including but not limited to, the
misalignment of tiles caused by their shifting during the hardening
process, cracking and crumbling of the grout which results in loose
tiles, the collection of ground-in dirt and bacteria in the porous
grout, requiring a complete rebuild when repairs are needed to a
portion of the tiles, and the mess associated with grouting.
[0004] As can be seen, there is a need for a system that embodies a
method and device for installing aligned floor and wall tiles
without grout.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one aspect of the present invention, an installation
device for installing tiles to a supporting surface without grout
includes a generally planar base sheet having a first side and an
opposing second side; a plurality of ridges formed along the first
side in a grid-like pattern; at least one tile cavity, each tile
cavity defined along its perimeter by intersecting ridges; and at
least one adhesive opening formed within the base sheet,
communicating the first and second sides, wherein each adhesive
opening is disposed within each of the at least one tile
cavity.
[0006] In another aspect of the present invention, an installation
system for installing tiles to a supporting surface without grout
includes an installation device having a generally planar base
sheet having a first side and an opposing second side; a plurality
of ridges formed along the first side in a grid-like pattern; at
least one tile cavity, each tile cavity defined along its perimeter
by intersecting ridges; and at least one adhesive opening formed
within the base sheet, communicating the first and second sides,
wherein each adhesive opening is disposed within each of the at
least one tile cavity; an adhesive for filling each adhesive
opening so as to form an adhesive region therein; and at least one
predetermined tile dimensioned and adapted to snugly be received
within each tile cavity and contact its adhesive region, wherein
the installation device is an unitary construction of recyclable
material.
[0007] In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of
installing tiles to a supporting surface without grout, includes
the steps of providing an installation device having a generally
planar base sheet having a first side and an opposing second side;
a plurality of ridges formed along the first side in a grid-like
pattern; at least one tile cavity, each tile cavity defined along
its perimeter by intersecting ridges; and at least one adhesive
opening formed within the base sheet, communicating the first and
second sides, wherein each adhesive opening is disposed within each
of the at least one tile cavity; overlaying the second side on the
supporting surface; filling each adhesive opening with an adhesive,
forming an adhesive region extending from the supporting wall to at
least the first side; and placing a predetermined tile snugly
within each tile cavity so as to adhere to its respective adhesive
region.
[0008] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention, shown in use;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, demonstrating tiling installation;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a front view of a first side of an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a rear view of a second side of an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0013] FIG. 5 is a section detail view of an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention, taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the
invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense,
but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general
principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is
best defined by the appended claims.
[0015] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an
installation device for installing a plurality of tiles to a
supporting surface without grout. The installation device may
include a generally planar base sheet forming a predetermined
pattern of ridges, wherein intersecting ridges form a perimeter
defining a tile cavity. The base sheet may form an adhesive opening
within each tile cavity. A suitable adhesive may fill each adhesive
opening so as to adhere the base sheet to the supporting surface as
well as provide an adhesive region within each tile cavity for a
predetermined tile received therein, whereby the ridges provide the
joint between adjacent tiles.
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention may
include an installation device 30. The installation device 30 may
be made of durable and resilient material including, but not
limited to, rubber, various plasticized materials and the like,
wherein said material may be adapted to provide a finished
undersurface for floor or wall tiles. In certain embodiments, the
installation device 30 may be made of recycled material. In certain
embodiments, the material may have colors added to it. The
installation device 30 may be a unitary construction made in roll
format, formed by pressing, molding, additive manufacturing or the
like.
[0017] The installation device 30 may include a base sheet 10 being
generally planar and having a first side 22 and an opposing second
side 24. The first side 22 may form a plurality of ridges 12
defining a predetermined pattern along a surface of the first side
22. The predetermined pattern may define a rectangular grid as
illustrated in FIG. 2. In alternative embodiments, the
predetermined pattern may vary depending on the resulting pattern
of tiling a user desires, so long as there are spaced apart,
intersecting ridges 12. By intersecting, it is to be understood
that some ridges do not pass through or divide other ridges, but in
some instance they abut each other, terminate at one another,
and/or would pass through another ridge but for terminating
beforehand leaving a gap therebetween. Intersecting ridges 12 may
define a perimeter of a tile cavity. Each tile cavity may be
dimensioned and adapted to receive a predetermined tile 18. Each
tile cavity may form at least one adhesive opening 14 communicating
the first and second sides 22, 24.
[0018] The second side 24 may be dimensioned and adapted to
continuously contact a supporting surface 16, such as a floor or a
wall.
[0019] The base sheet 10 may be adapted to provide a finished
undersurface or backing for the plurality of the predetermined
tiles 18 so that the plurality of ridges 12 are the joints between
each tile 18, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0020] A method of using the present invention may include the
following. The installation device 30 disclosed above may be
provided. A user may hang the base sheet 10 along a vertical
supporting surface 16 or overlay a horizontal supporting surface
16. Then the user may apply a sufficient adhesive 20 to the
supporting surface 16 through and filling each adhesive opening 14,
as illustrated in FIG. 5, thereby adhering the installation device
30 to said supporting surface 16. The adhesive 20 may be adapted so
as to substantially fill each adhesive opening 14 including along a
periphery thereof so as to form an adhesive region within each tile
cavity. Each adhesive region may be at least flush with the first
side 22 if not protruding into each tile cavity.
[0021] Then the user may place a tile 18 within the tile cavity so
that each tile 18 contacts the adhesive region, adhering to the
adhesive 20, whereby the installation device 30 becomes a permanent
addition to the supporting surface 16, holding the tiles 18 within
the plurality of tile cavities, so as the plurality of ridges 12
are the joints between each properly aligned tile 18.
[0022] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing
relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
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