Floor tile scoring-cutting guide

Abstract

A device to be used as tool creating a straightedge for scoring or cutting VCT (vinyl composition tile) or vinyl floor tile, comprising of a triangular plate that has flat and smooth side surface edges to be used as a straightedge guide to draw a utility knife or other apparatus along the edge. On one of the right angle sides of said triangular plate and face, is an elongated bar fence that extends at ninety-degree angle outwardly from said triangular plate and face. An optional T-bar fence constructed as an integral part of the Floor Tile Cutting—Guide extends only a minimal distance and only far enough from the bottom edge in order that the device can lay flat on a floor tile when it is abutted to the edge or laying off to the side of a floor tile. An optional bar fence on one of the right angle straightedge sides is movable up or down in a ninety-degree angle from said plate and face allowing for the bar fence to lay flat on a floor tile or drop down when off to the side and become a fence that can be abutted to the edge of the floor tile. A preferred embodiment along the fore mentioned sides, there are numeral and corresponding measurement markings indicating distance. Along and by the right angle straightedge side, measurement makings indicate the distance from the bar fence and the edge of the floor tile. Along and by the diagonal straightedge side, measurement makings indicate the distance that the right angle straightedge is from the bottom of floor tile being sized. Such measurement markings on the diagonal are parallel and horizontal to the right angle straightedge side that indicate distance right angle straightedge is from the bottom of the floor tile for easy, quick and accurate measuring for sizing, eliminating the need for a tape measure or other measuring device. With optional recessed, indented or even slightly protruding markings, they are a minimal distance away from the edge allowing for an unobstructed and unencumbered flat and smooth side to guide and to draw a utility knife or other such apparatus along the tool edge. With a preferred embodiment, optionally on the flat face or embedded into the plate of said triangle, is a non slip-slide material made preferably of a rubber material, however optionally it can be made of other material such as vinyl or leather that hold the tool firmly and securely in place preventing movement of tool while using it as a scoring or cutting guide. The tool is constructed preferably of a hard cased aluminum, however optionally it can be constructed of any integrally formed material such as any metal or hard plastic that is solid in nature. It is a tool that is lightweight, compact and easily storable.

Claims

1. A device comprising: a triangular plate having parallel, opposed planar faces with two right angle sides and a forty-five degree diagonal side extending between the right angle sides of the triangular plate, where at least one of the right angle side constitutes a straightedge side; and an elongated bar fence of greater thickness than the triangular plate slidably fitted disposed along a length of one of the right angle sides and projecting perpendicularly from at least one of the planar faces, where the bar fence is adjustable up and down from either planar face operable to enable the triangular plate to lay flush on a surface while the bar fence is in an up position and in a drop down position the bar fence abuts an edge of the surface, while the triangular plate lays flush on the surface, and at least one of the right angles sides and diagonal sides have numeral markings and a plurality of corresponding hash markings on at least one planar face bordering an edge of the corresponding side.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the bar fence including at least one slot aperture, and the triangular plate having at least one pinned screw to engage the slot for attachment of the bar fence to the triangular plate.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the bar fence is detachable from the triangular plate.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the corresponding hash markings are set back from the straightedge side edge and a diagonal side edge to preserve smooth flat edges that are unencumbered and unobstructed from the hash markings.

5. A device comprising: a triangular plate having opposed faces with two right angle sides and a diagonal side, where at least one right angle side being a straightedge side and the other right angle side being a bar fence side and one of the faces being flat; an elongated bar fence extending perpendicular to at least the one flat face along at least a portion an edge of the bar fence side, at least one of the straightedge side and the diagonal side includes numeral markings and a plurality of corresponding hash markings bordering an edge of the at least one of the straightedge side and the diagonal side, the numeral markings and the hash markings bordering the diagonal side edge are parallel and horizontal to the straightedge side and designate the distance to the straightedge side; and, the triangular plate includes a non-slip material on at least the face from which the bar fence extends.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the non-slip material is a non-slip rubber based material.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the corresponding hash markings are set back a distance from an outer edge of the straightedge side and an outer edge of the diagonal side to provide smooth flat edges unencumbered and unobstructed from the hash markings.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the diagonal side is at a forty-five degree angle relative to the right angle sides.

9. The device of claim 5, where at least one of the triangular plate and the bar fence is made of at least one of metal and plastic.

10. The device of claim 5, where the triangular plate and bar fence is made of aluminum.

11. The device of claim 5, where the bar fence is T shaped.

12. The device of claim 5, where the bar fence is movable perpendicular to the flat face of the triangular plate.

13. The device of claim 5, where the bar fence is removable from the triangular plate.

14. The device of claim 5, where the bar fence extends along the entire edge of the bar fence side.

15. The device of claim 5, where the bar fence extends from only one of the faces.

16. A device comprising: a triangular plate having parallel, opposed planar faces with two right angle sides and one forty-five degree diagonal side extending between the right angle sides of the triangular plate whereas one right angle side constitutes a straightedge side having an edge; and an elongated bar fence of greater thickness than the triangular plate integrally incorporated with the triangular plate disposed along a length of one right angle side horizontally aligned and projecting perpendicularly from at least one planar face having a predetermined raised edge of a minimal distance of commensurable height to accommodate abutment of a VCT floor tile to the bar fence, where the bar fence thickness relative to the triangular plate being limited to a thickness of the VCT floor tile to enable the triangular plate to lay flush and securely upon on the tile when the bar fence is abutted to an edge of the VCT floor tile, the straightedge side including numeral markings and a plurality of corresponding perpendicular hash markings on at least one planar face bordering an outer edge, whereby hash markings designate distance from the other right angle side, and the diagonal side including numeral markings and a plurality of corresponding hash markings on at least one planar face, whereby the hash markings are parallel and horizontal to adjacent the straightedge side.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the corresponding hash markings on the planer face are set back a distance from the straightedge side edge and the diagonal side edge to provide smooth flat edges unencumbered and unobstructed from the hash markings.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the numeral markings and the corresponding hash markings bordering the diagonal side edge designate distance from the right angle sides.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 Shows from a front view and FIG. 2 shows from an isometric view of a basic embodiment of the Tile Scoring-Cutting Guide being a triangular plate with a flat face with measurement numerals and correspondent measurement markings with a bar fence on one of the square right angle sides.

(2) 11. Measurement numeral markings along side of the other square right angle side of the bar fence.

(3) 12. Indicator measurement hash markings along the other square right angle side of the bar fence.

(4) 13. Flat and smooth edge of other right angle square side of the bar fence side creating a straightedge guide.

(5) 14. Horizontal parallel indicator measurement markings along diagonal straightedge side for sizing and designating distance right angle straightedge side is from bottom of tile being sized that that are slightly setback from edge.

(6) 15. Numeral measurement markings along edge of diagonal straightedge side.

(7) 16. Flat face of the triangular plate of the Tile Scoring-Cutting Guide embodiment.

(8) 17. Flat and smooth diagonal edge side creating a straightedge guide.

(9) 18. The T-bar fence elongated on one side of the right angle triangle wherein that it extends outwardly in a ninety-degree angle from said triangular plate.

(10) FIG. 3 Shows from a front view and FIG. 4 shows from an isometric view and a preferred embodiment of the Floor Tile Scoring-Cutting Guide of the triangular plate with a flat face and measurement numerals and correspondent measurement markings with a T-bar fence on one of the square right angle sides.

(11) 19. Non-skid, non-slip surface attached to the face or embedded into the plate of triangular plate preferably made from a rubber material or other such material, creating a non-skid, non-slip surface to prevent the tool from movement while floor tile is being cut.

(12) FIG. 5 Shows an isometric view of an optional embodiment of the Floor Tile Scoring-Cutting Guide of the triangular plate with a flat face and measurement numerals and correspondent measurement markings with a movable bar fence on one of the square right angle sides with the non-skid, non-slip surface.

(13) 20. The movable bar fence elongated on one side of the right angle triangle wherein that it extends outwardly in a ninety-degree angle from said triangular plate.

(14) 21. An indented and cut out slot on bar fence allowing for up and down movement.

(15) 22. The pinned screw in slot on the bar fence for a loose attachment to the triangular plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIG. 1 AND FIG. 2

(16) The basic embodiment of the Floor Tile Scoring-Cutting Guide is a triangular plate with a flat face (16) with measurement numerals (11) (15) and corresponding measurement markings (12) (14) designating distance. Right angle straightedge side (13) and diagonal straightedge side (17) of the triangular plate (16) having flat and smooth sided edges creating a straightedge for a utility knife or other such apparatus to be drawn against as a guide. On the diagonal straightedge side (17) are numeral markings (15) and horizontal and parallel markings (14) that are corresponding to the right angle straightedge side (13) designating measurement distance right angle straightedge side (13) is from the bottom of the floor tile to be sized as well as corresponding with the length of the elongated bar fence (18). A preferred embodiment, measurement markings (14) (12) and numeral markings (11) (15) optionally are recessed, indented or slightly protruding markings. Such markings (12) (14) being a minimal distance from edge of right angle and diagonal straightedge sides (13) (17). The T-bar fence (18) extends outwardly at a ninety-degree angle from the said triangular plate and face (16) only a minimal distance and only far enough that Floor Tile Scoring Guide will lie flat on floor tile to be sized. The embodiment of the Floor Tile Scoring-Cutting Guide is manufactured from any form of an integrally formed solid material, preferably constructed of hard cased aluminum.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3—Preferred Embodiment

(17) A preferred embodiment wherein on the face of triangular plate (16) having a non-skid and non-slide material (19) attached upon or embedded into the triangular plate and face (16) to hold Floor Tile Scoring-Cutting Guide firmly and securely in place. In the preferred embodiment of the Floor Tile Scoring-Cutting Guide it is manufactured from hard cased aluminum.

FIG. 5—Optional Bar Fence

(18) An optional embodiment with a bar fence (20) that has an elongated squared off rectangle bar that is separate from the body of the triangular plate (16) having indented and cut out slots (21) for loose attachment to triangular plate (16) by a pinned screw (22) that can be taken out for removal of the bar fence (20).