WEDGE SYSTEM WITH FRICTION ISOLATION PLATES

Abstract

The system includes receivers and wedges. Each receiver has a base and a perpendicularly-extending hook having an aperture. Each hook is disposed as a spacer between a pair of tiles in an array laid in bedding, to provide for side-by-side tile spacing. The base is disposed beneath the pair. Each wedge has a clamping surface and a ribbed gripping surface orientated angularly thereto. Each wedge extends through the aperture such that: the pair is captured between the base and wedge, with the clamping surface disposed in coplanar relation to the pair; the gripping surface grips the receiver, to resist wedge withdrawal and maintain the clamped engagement until the bedding has cured. The gripping surface width is less than the wedge width. The hook has a wall that defines one edge of aperture, is opposite to and presents towards the planar element in perpendicular relation. The wall fits between the ribs.

Claims

1. An improved wedge system of the type used with tiles and a bedding material such as mortar or adhesive for creating a tiled surface having an array of the tiles arranged in substantially coplanar side-by-side evenly spaced relation the wedge system being of the type including wedge receivers, each having a substantially planar base element and a resilient hook element extending from the base element in substantially perpendicular relation, the hook element having an aperture defined therein, each hook element, in use, being disposed in the manner of a tile spacer between a pair of adjacent tiles in an array of the tiles laid in the bedding material, thereby to provide for said substantially even side-by-side spacing of the tiles and the base element, in use, being disposed beneath the pair of adjacent tiles; and wedges, each having a clamping surface and a ribbed gripping surface orientated in angular relation to one another, each wedge, in use, extending through the aperture of a respective receiver such that: the pair of adjacent tiles are captured between the base element and the wedge, with the clamping surface of the wedge disposed in coplanar relation to the pair of adjacent tiles; the gripping surface grips the respective wedge receiver, to resist withdrawal of the wedge from the aperture and maintain the clamped engagement until the bedding material has cured, wherein the improvement comprises: the gripping surface of the wedge having a width less than the width of the wedge; and the hook element having a wall that defines one edge of the aperture and is disposed opposite to and presents towards the planar element in perpendicular relation, the wall being sized to fit between the ribs.

2. The wedge system of claim 1, wherein the ribs are arcuate.

3. The wedge system of claim 1, wherein the wall tapers in width as it extends away from the base portion.

4. The wedge system of claim 1, wherein the wedge, when sectioned perpendicular to the clamping surface, has a profile which terminates in a portion that has the shape of the wall.

5. The wedge system of claim 1, further comprising slider plates, each slider plate being planar and having a slot adapted to permit through passage of a hook.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0018] FIG. 1A is a view of the components of a wedge system according to an example embodiment of the invention;

[0019] FIG. 1B is another view of the components of FIG. 1A;

[0020] FIG. 1C is another view of the components of FIG. 1A;

[0021] FIG. 1D is another view of the components of FIG. 1A;

[0022] FIG. 1E is another view of the components of FIG. 1A;

[0023] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of encircled area 2 of FIG. 1A;

[0024] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of encircled area 3 of FIG. 1A;

[0025] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of encircled area 4 of FIG. 1A;

[0026] FIG. 5 is a view of a mortar bed;

[0027] FIG. 6 is a view of a tile laid upon the mortar bed of FIG. 5;

[0028] FIG. 7 is a view of the structure of FIG. 6, with a plurality of the structures of FIG. 2 deployed therewith;

[0029] FIG. 8 is a view of the structure of FIG. 7 with a further four tiles laid in the mortar bed;

[0030] FIG. 9 is a view of the structure of FIG. 8, with a plurality of the structures of FIG. 4 deployed therewith;

[0031] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of encircled area 10 of FIG. 9;

[0032] FIG. 11 is a view of the structure of FIG. 10 with the structure of FIG. 3 positioned for use therewith;

[0033] FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 with the structure of FIG. 3 extending through the structure of FIG. 2;

[0034] FIG. 12A is an enlarged view of encircled area 12A of FIG. 12;

[0035] FIG. 12B is a side view of the structure of FIG. 12A;

[0036] FIG. 13 is a view similar to 12 with the structure of FIG. 3 extending through the structure of FIG. 2 more fully than as shown in FIG. 12;

[0037] FIG. 13A is an enlarged view of encircled area 13A of FIG. 13; and

[0038] FIG. 13B is a side view of the structure of FIG. 13A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The components 20 of an improved wedge system are shown in FIG. 1A to 1E and will be seen to include wedge receivers 22, wedges 24 and slider plates 26.

[0040] With reference to FIG. 2, the wedge receivers 22 each have a base element 28 and a hook element 30.

[0041] The base element 28 is generally hourglass-shaped in plan [as shown in FIG. 1A], terminating in a plurality of feet 32, and is generally planar. However, when viewed in profile, as indicated in FIG. 1D, it will be seen that the base element 28 is generally thickest along a centerline C-C and generally tapers as it extends away therefrom, but for a ridge 34 defined by each foot 32.

[0042] The hook element 30 extends from the centerline of the base element, includes a pair of legs 36, a bridge 38 and a wall 40 and defines an aperture 42.

[0043] The legs 36 have generally coplanar portions 44 and meet the base 28 in waisted portions 46.

[0044] The bridge 38 rigidly connects the legs 36.

[0045] The wall 40 is resilient, defines one edge of the aperture 42 and is disposed opposite to and presents towards the base element 28 in perpendicular relation. The wall 40 tapers in width as it extends away from the base element 28 and has a thickness.

[0046] With reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 1B, the wedges 24 will be understood to each have: [0047] a clamping surface 48 (not shown, but understood to be the underside) [0048] a gripping surface 49 orientated in angular relation to the clamping surface 48 to meet in an end 50; [0049] opposite the end 50, a base 52; [0050] a pair of sides 54 projecting in perpendicular relation to the clamping surface 48 and in parallel relation to one another; and [0051] chamfers 56 flanking the gripping surface 49, each extending from the gripping surface 49 to a respective side 54.

[0052] The clamping surface 48 is planar.

[0053] The gripping surface 49 has a width W1 less than the width W2 of the wedge and is defined by a plurality of arcuate ribs 58 spaced apart by about the thickness of the wall 40. The arcuate nature of the ribs 58 is best seen in plan, as in FIG. 1B.

[0054] The end 50 defines a plurality of steps 60, each step 60 demarcated with its thickness relative to the clamping surface 48.

[0055] The base 52 defines a concave surface 62.

[0056] The sides 54 are planar and parallel.

[0057] The chamfers 56 have a plurality of equally spaced demarcations 64 and are shaped such that the wedge 24, when sectioned perpendicular to the clamping surface 48, has a profile which terminates in a portion that has a shape and size that generally matches that of the wall 40.

[0058] With reference to FIG. 4, the slider plates 26 are each planar, each have a slot 66 adapted to permit through passage of a hook 30 and are generally cruciform in shape. Each arm 68 of the cross is demarcated with its thickness relative to a base 70 of the plate. Again, base 70 is not shown but will understood to be a planar surface on the underside.

[0059] The usefulness of the components will become evident upon review of the sequence of FIG. 5 through 13B. More particularly: [0060] bedding material of, for example, thinset mortar, is placed as in FIG. 5 [0061] a tile is placed on the bedding material as in FIG. 6 [0062] receivers 22 are disposed around the perimeter of the tile with portions of the base elements disposed beneath tile, as shown in phantom in FIG. 7 [0063] additional tiles are placed, such that (i) the hook elements 30 are disposed in the manner of tile spacers between pairs of adjacent tiles in an array of the tiles laid in a bedding material, thereby to provide for said substantially even side-by-side spacing of the tiles; and (ii) the base elements 28 are disposed beneath the pairs of adjacent tiles, as in FIG. 8 [0064] slider plates 26 are fitted over the hook elements 30 such that hook elements 30 protrude therethrough, as in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 [0065] wedges 24 are pushed through the hooks 30, as indicated by sequence of FIGS. 8-10, with the pairs of tiles captured between the slider plates 26 and the base elements 28 and gripping surfaces 49 engaging the receivers 22 to resist withdrawal of the wedges 24 until the bedding material has cured.

[0066] It will be appreciated that interposing slider plates 26 between the clamping surfaces 48 and the tiles prior to placement of the wedges 24 isolates the underlying tiles from frictional engagement with the wedges 24 thereby avoiding translation movement. To restate: prior art wedge systems, when tightened, can cause separation of the underlying tiles by virtue of frictional forces; interposition of the slider plate 26, which is locked against motion by engagement with the hook 30, resists this.

[0067] Of course, the wedges and wedge receivers can be used in a generally conventional fashion that is, without slider plates. However, even in this use, the components of the system have advantage. More particularly, the system of the present invention is relatively easy to use without hand tools in comparison to known systems, even that disclosed in WO 2015/161366, incorporated by reference. Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that the reduced size of the gripping surface and the complementary shaping of the wall and the upper profile of the wedge may account for that ease of use. FIGS. 13A and 13B are close ups showing the manner in which the wall is deformed in use; again, without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that the shape of the wedge and the shape of the wall cooperate such that the wedge relatively easily deforms the wall to a position whereat the engagement of the wall in the ribs robustly resists withdrawal.

[0068] The system has even further advantage, including, without limitation: [0069] the demarcated thicknesses on the slider plates and wedge ends allow the slider plates and wedges to be used as tile spacers when desired. [0070] the demarcations along the chamfers facilitate clamping on the tiles to a generally consistent pressure, which can have advantage in terms of install quality. [0071] the tapered feet of the base elements facilitate insertion of the clips under the tiles and into the bedding material; the ridges on the feet provide rigidity to the feet and maintain the thickness of the feet, again, providing advantages in terms of install quality. [0072] the waisted portions of the legs facilitate removal of the clips with a mallet after the bedding material has cured.

[0073] Whereas a specific embodiment is herein shown and described, variations are possible. Accordingly, the invention should be understood to be limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.