Prefabricated Tile Strip

Abstract

A prefabricated tile strip includes a backing board, a tile region having plural tiles and grout. The grout can be composed of a resin/polymer-based grout that allows for superior water resistance, stain resistance, crack resistance and is transportable without breaking. The strip includes an edge region or flange on either side of the tiles to allow for simple screw in and glue on assembly, not even a wall is necessary, the strip can be attached directly to the studs. A step over/under water resistant edges can go directly onto a bathtub or shower ledge or onto the wet area of a tile floor (not separate ledge), allowing it to go straight down to the bottom of a shower floor, or It can step right over a thin plastic flange on a tub or shower base.

Claims

1. A decorative panel, comprising: a backing board; and a plurality of tiles secured to a central region of the backing board; the backing board having a step formed on a back side of the backing board sized to step over a ledge.

2. The decorative panel according to claim 1, wherein the step is sized to step over a ledge of a shower base or tub base.

3. The decorative panel according to claim 1, wherein the panel is configured to be a portion of a tub enclosure or shower enclosure and the tiles have a thickness equal to adjacent shower panels or tub panels.

4. The decorative panel according to claim 1, wherein the central region is sized to provide exposed regions of the backing panel on opposite sides of the central region.

5. The decorative panel according to claim 4, wherein the exposed regions are covered by tile or composite panels after installation.

6. The decorative panel according to claim 1, wherein the tiles are adhesively secured to the backing board and grout is applied between tiles.

7. A method of installing a decorative panel, comprising the steps of: providing a backing board; and providing a plurality of tiles secured to a central region of the backing board; the backing board having a step formed on a back side of the backing board; and installing the backing board with the step fitting over a ledge.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of installing is further characterized in that the step is sized to step over a ledge of a shower base or tub base.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the panel is configured to be a portion of a tub enclosure or shower enclosure and the tiles have a thickness equal to adjacent shower panels or tub panels.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the central region is sized to provide exposed regions of the backing panel on opposite sides of the central region; and wherein the step of installing is further characterized in that shower or tub panels are attached to the backing board on a front side of the backing board in the exposed regions.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the central region is sized to provide exposed regions of the backing panel on opposite sides of the central region; and wherein the step of installing is further characterized in that a front side of the backing board in the exposed regions is covered by tile after installation.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the central region is sized to provide exposed regions of the backing panel on opposite sides of the central region; wherein the tiles are adhesively secured to the backing board and grout is applied between tiles in the factory and the backing board is shipped to a site; and wherein the step of installing is further characterized in that a front side of the backing board in the exposed regions is covered by tile or panels after installation on site.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevation view of an installation of an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the exemplary embodiment taken from FIG. 2;

[0022] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 illustrating a step over edge; and

[0023] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view comparable to FIG. 4 but with a step under edge;

[0024] FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

[0026] This application incorporates by reference U.S. Ser. No. 16/549,771, filed Aug. 23, 2019, and U.S. Provisional Application 62/722,011 filed Aug. 23, 2018 in their entireties.

[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates a wall assembly 10 mounted onto a bath or shower base 54. The assembly 10 includes a shower panel 20 and a shower panel 28 installed on either side of a tile panel 16. The panel 16 includes backing board 22 that carries a tiled region 24 on a front face thereof. The region 24 includes tiles 25 adhesively secured onto the backing board 22 and having grout 26 surrounding each tile 25. The grout can be a urethane based grout and then sealed with a group sealer. Even though only some tiles 25 are shown in the region 24, it should be understood that the entire region 24 can be substantially covered with tiles 25 and grout 26. An aluminum tile edger or frame 27 can be used around the tile region 24 to avoid any unfinished perimeter, or to transition between substrates or panels.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, the backing board 22 can be fastened to studs 31 by nails 33 or other fasteners, and/or adhesive. Alternatively the backing board 22 can be adhesively secured to wall boards or green boards, not shown.

[0029] The tiles 25 advantageously have a thickness T1 of about ⅜ inch corresponding to a thickness of the shower panels 20, 28 to provide a continuous flush surface over the shower panels 20, 28 and the region 24. The backing board 22 can have a thickness T2 equal to adjacent wall boards 14.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3 the board 22 includes a base board 40, such as a DENSSHIELD Tile Backer, from Georgia-Pacific that is substantially covered by a sealing layer 44. The sealing layer 44 is composed of one thickly brushed-on layer of REDGARD waterproofing membrane, available from Custom Building Products Corporation of Seal Beach Calif. The tiles 25 (not drawn to scale) in the region 24 can be secured by an adhesive layer 48 to the backing board 22. The board 22 includes exposed side regions 32, 36, also covered by the layer 44 that provide edge regions or flanges for receiving the overlapping shower panels, or tiles or other coverings. The shower panels 20, 28 can be adhesively secured and sealed to the regions 32, 36.

[0031] The entire panel 16 can be factory preassembled with base board 40, sealing layer 44, adhesive 48, tiles 25, frame 27, grout 26 and grout sealer to be delivered to the job site for installation onto the studs or other structure.

[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates the panel 16 mounted to a shelf 58 of a shower or tub base 54. The shelf 58 includes a vertical edge or rim 60. The backing panel 22 includes a rear step 66 that has a height and width sufficient to step over the vertical rim 60. With the step 66, the tile region 24 can be set down onto the shelf 58 or set closely to the shelf 58. The step 66 can be applied to only the bottom or to both the top and bottom as shown in FIG. 6. This allows for a top step over as needed.

[0033] FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment panel 16′ mounted to a shelf 58 of a shower or tub base 54. The shelf 58 includes a vertical edge or rim 60. The backing panel 22′ includes a front step 66′ that has a height and width sufficient to step under the vertical rim 60. With the step 66′, the tile region 24 can be set down onto the rim 60 or close to the rim 60 and a bottom of the board 22 can be set onto an underlying structure 70. The step 66 can be applied to only the bottom or to both the top and bottom as shown in FIG. 6. This allows for a top step under or over as needed.

[0034] From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.

[0035] All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein, to the extent that the references are not contrary to the present disclosure.