Grid Plate for Laying Tile on Uneven Surfaces

Abstract

A grid plate for laying mosaic tile preferably includes a grid plate member and detachable tile trowels and/or depth tools. The grid plate member includes a plurality of transverse strips, a plurality of lengthwise strips, and a plurality of retention elements. The plurality of transverse and lengthwise cross strips form a grid pattern. It is preferable that a top of the plurality of transverse and lengthwise strips be brought to an edge to facilitate the distribution of thinset. The plurality of retention elements are integrally molded into the grid pattern to secure the grid plate to a tile cavity.

Claims

1. A grid plate for laying tile comprising: a plurality of transverse strips; a plurality of lengthwise strips joined to said plurality of transverse strips to form a grid pattern; and a plurality of retention members formed as an integral portion of said grid pattern.

2. The grid plate for laying tile of claim 1 wherein said plurality of retention members extend from a side wall of said plurality of transverse and lengthwise strips.

3. The grid plate for laying tile of claim 2 wherein said plurality of retention members are located in substantially a center of a height of said grid pattern.

4. The grid plate for laying tile of claim 1 wherein said plurality of retention members are rings.

5. The grid plate for laying tile of claim 4 wherein the rings are equally spaced throughout the grid pattern.

6. The grid plate for laying tile of claim 5 wherein a spacing between the rings is greater than a diameter of the rings.

7. The grid plate for laying tile of claim 4 wherein the diameter of the rings is approximately inch.

8. The grid plate for laying tile of claim 7 wherein a thickness of the rings is approximately inch.

9. The grid plate for laying tile of claim 1 wherein at least one detachable trowel tool is molded as an integral portion of said grid plate.

10. The grid plate for laying tile of claim 1 wherein at least one detachable depth measurement tool is molded as an integral portion of said grid plate.

11. The grid plate for laying tile of claim 1 wherein a bottom edge of said plurality of transverse strips and lengthwise strips supports a screw hole receiving a securing screw securing the grid plate to a tile cavity

12. The grid plate for laying tile of claim 1 wherein the grid pattern is a series of squares.

13. The grid plate for laying tile of claim 12 wherein a bottom edge is formed on a bottom of said plurality of transverse strips and lengthwise strips and said plurality of retention members are an inwardly extending frame framing the outer square.

14. A method of laying mosaic tile, comprising the steps of: providing a grid plate member forming a grid pattern having a plurality of retention members in said grid plate member; applying a tile bonding substance to a bottom of a tile cavity; inserting said grid plate member to said plurality of dollops of tile bonding substance; spreading said tile bonding substance over a top of said grid plate member; and pressing the tile into said tile bonding substance.

15. The method of laying mosaic tile of claim 14, wherein said plurality of retention members are rings extending from internal sidewalls forming the grid pattern.

16. The method of laying mosaic tile of claim 15, wherein the rings extend from substantially a center of a height of said grid pattern.

17. The method of laying mosaic tile of claim 14, wherein said plurality of retention members are inwardly extending frames extending from a bottom edge of said grid pattern.

18. The method of laying mosaic tile of claim 14, further comprising the step of: utilizing a tile trowel to spread said tile bonding substance on a bottom of the mosaic tile cavity.

19. The method of laying mosaic tile of claim 18, further comprising the step of: applying dollops of said tile bonding substance to a bottom of the mosaic tile cavity.

20. The method of laying mosaic tile of claim 19, further comprising the step of: utilizing a tile trowel to spread said tile bonding substance over said top of said grid plate member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 is a top view of a grid plate assembly in accordance with the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a portion of a grid plate member of the grid plate assembly of FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a trowel tool of FIG. 1;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a top view of a tile cavity for the application of mosaic tile with dollops of thinset applied on a bottom of the tile cavity in accordance with the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 4a is a top view of a tile cavity for the application of mosaic tile with a plurality of lines of thinset applied on a bottom of the tile cavity with a large groove tile trowel in accordance with the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 5 is an end view of a tile cavity for the application of mosaic tile with dollops of thinset applied on a bottom of the tile cavity in accordance with the present invention;

[0031] FIG. 5a is an end view of a tile cavity for the application of mosaic tile with a plurality of lines of thinset applied on a bottom of the tile cavity with a large groove tile trowel in accordance with the present invention;

[0032] FIG. 6 is a top view of a tile cavity for the application of mosaic tile with a grid plate inserted into thinset in accordance with the present invention;

[0033] FIG. 7 is an end view of a tile cavity for the application of mosaic tile with a grid plate inserted into thinset in accordance with the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 8 is a top view of a tile cavity for the application of mosaic tile with thinset applied to a top of a grid plate with a large groove tile trowel in accordance with the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 9 is an end view of a tile cavity for the application of mosaic tile with thinset applied to a top of a grid plate with a large groove tile trowel in accordance with the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 10 is a top view of a tile cavity for the application of mosaic tile with mosaic tile inserted into thinset in accordance with the present invention;

[0037] FIG. 11 is an end view of a tile cavity for the application of mosaic tile with mosaic tile inserted into thinset in accordance with the present invention;

[0038] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a grid plate assembly according to an alternative body of the present invention showing different tile leveling tools;

[0039] FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the grid plate member of the grid plate assembly of FIG. 12 showing lower frame members;

[0040] FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of a trowel tool of the grid plate assembly of FIG. 12;

[0041] FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of a depth measurement tool of the grid plate assembly of FIG. 12; and

[0042] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a grid plate assembly according to an alternative body of the present invention showing screw attachment squares.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0043] With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a top view of a grid plate assembly 1. The grid plate assembly 1 preferably includes a grid plate member 10, a detachable large groove tile trowel 12, and a detachable small groove tile trowel 14. It is understood that the grid plate 1 may be sold as a kit allowing the user to complete the leveling tile task with the assistance of detachable tools also included in the kit.

[0044] While the grid plate assembly 1 includes multiple attached and detachable elements, it is understood that the grid plate assembly 1 may only include the grid plate member 10 without the detachable tile trowels 12, 14 or other attachments. In alternative embodiments, the grid plate assembly 1 may include other or additional tiling tools, such as multi-sized tile trowels and depth measurement tools, as further described below.

[0045] In one embodiment the grid plate member 10 may be a rectangular sheet of material, in one embodiment having dimensions of 2 feet by 3 feet and in another embodiment having dimensions of 4 feet by 6 feet. The grid plate member 10 may have an area of approximately 6 ft..sup.2 to 24 ft..sup.2 which provides enough material so that the sheet may be cut down to size as desired by the size of the mosaic tile cavity 100 or the area to be leveled. It is understood that many variations in the shape or size of grid plate member 10 may be provided by the present invention allowing for a piece of smaller material to be cut from the sheet as desired. It is also understood that the grid plate member 10 may be used for additional subsequent projects depending on the amount of remaining good plate material.

[0046] The grid plate member 10 is defined by a plurality of transverse strips 16, a plurality of lengthwise strips 18, and a plurality of retention elements, shown in FIG. 1 as retention rings 20. The plurality of transverse and lengthwise cross strips 16, 18 form a grid pattern 22 of a rectangular array of squares or rectangles 23 of substantially equal size. In this respect the transverse and lengthwise strips 16, 18 cross each other at perpendicular angles. The distance between the plurality of transverse and lengthwise strips 16, 18 may have any appropriate distance. In one embodiment the distance between the transverse and lengthwise strips 16, 18 may be approximately inch to form inch by inch squares.

[0047] With reference to FIG. 2, it is preferable that a top of the thin cross strips be brought to an upper edge 24 to facilitate the distribution of thinset across a top of the grid plate member 10. In some embodiments the upper edge 24 may be pointed or have a sharpened end. The plurality of transverse and lengthwise strips 16, 18 may have any suitable thickness and height. In one embodiment the transverse and lengthwise strips 16, 18 may have a thickness of approximately inch. In one embodiment the transverse and lengthwise strips 16, 18 may be approximately to 2 inches in height providing a grid plate member 10 thickness of to 2 inches.

[0048] The plurality of retention rings 20 are integrally molded into the grid pattern 22. The plurality of rings 20 may comprise a ring having a thickness of approximately inch. The plurality of retention rings 20 extend from a side wall of the plurality of transverse and lengthwise strips 16, 18. The plurality of rings 20 are shown as being molded into substantially a middle of a height of said plurality of transverse and lengthwise strips 16, 18, but could be molded at a bottom or top of the plurality of transverse and lengthwise strips 16, 18. In an alternative embodiment the plurality of retention rings 20 may have a height substantially similar to the height of the transverse and lengthwise strips 16, 18. In this respect the plurality of retention rings 20 may be, for example, approximately inch to 2 inches in height which is substantially the same height as the transverse and lengthwise strips 16, 18.

[0049] It is understood that other shapes of retention members 20 may also be used. For example, the retention members 20 may be outlines of various shapes including a rectangle, square, triangle, diamond, oval, and the like. A retention member 20 having a square shape is further described below.

[0050] The plurality of retention rings 20 may be arranged within the grid pattern 22 such that the retention rings 20 are spaced equally from one another and disposed equally from any one edge of the grid plate member 10. The plurality of retention rings 20 may be spaced apart a distance greater than a diameter of the plurality of retention rings 20. For example, each of the plurality of retention rings 20 may have a diameter of approximately inch and may be spaced apart approximately 1 inch to 3 inches. The plurality of retention rings 20 may also be disposed in every square formed by the grid pattern, or in a repeating pattern, such as every other ring formed by the grid pattern. In this respect, the retention rings 20 may only be spaced apart inch commensurate with the thickness of transverse and lengthwise strips 16, 18. In alternative embodiments, the plurality of retention rings 20 may be arranged in repeating symmetric patterns. For example the retention rings 20 may be arranged in zigzag or alternating formations, concentric circles, or scattered formations.

[0051] It is understood that the plurality of retention rings 20 are disposed within the grid pattern 22 so that any smaller sized piece cut from the sheet of material will include at least one retention ring 20, but preferably, multiple retention rings 20. It is understood that the retention rings 20 provide additional surface area to which the underlying surface and the applied thinset 102 may adhere to the grid plate member 10 thus preventing the grid plate member 10 from sliding or moving from position within the mosaic tile cavity 100.

[0052] With reference again to FIG. 1, the detachable large groove tile trowel 12 preferably includes a plurality of inch end notches and corresponding teeth 26 extending on an outer edge 13 of the detachable large groove tile trowel 12 that is not attached to the grid plate member 10. In the embodiment shown, the notches and teeth 26 are rectangular in shape. It is understood that other appropriate notch sizes and shapes may also be used as understood in the art.

[0053] The detachable small groove tile trowel 14 preferably includes a plurality of 1/16 inch notches and corresponding teeth 28 extending on an outer edge 15 of the detachable small groove tile trowel 14. In the embodiment shown, the notches and teeth 28 are triangular in shape. However, other appropriate notch sizes and shapes may also be used.

[0054] A body of each tile trowel 12, 14 is molded as an integral portion of the grid plate member with a break-away connection. Break-away connections are well known in the art and need not be explained in detail. However it is understood that the breakaway connections may be perforations, indents, grooves and the like which facilitate removable of the detachable element. With reference to FIG. 3, a cross-section of the large and small groove tile trowels 12, 14 may be grooved to decrease molding time and the use of plastic material.

[0055] The grid plate member 10 comprising the plurality of transverse strips 16, plurality of lengthwise strips 18, and plurality of retention rings 20, and the large and small groove tile trowels 12, 14 may be constructed of a plastic material such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polystyrene, and the like. The grid plate member 10 may also be constructed of a metal, wood, or synthetic material to function in a similar manner.

[0056] With respect to use of the grid plate assembly 1, and with reference to FIGS. 4-5, a mosaic tile cavity 100 defined by an empty space between pre-existing non-mosaic tiles in which the user desires to place the mosaic tile, is prepared by applying a plurality of dollops of thinset 102 into the cavity 100. With reference to FIGS. 4a-5a, a mosaic tile cavity 100 may also be prepared by applying a plurality of lines of thinset 102 with the tile trowel 12. The tile trowel tool may be broken-off or cutoff, for example, with a cutting tool or wet saw from an edge of the grid plate 1 to be used for this purpose.

[0057] With reference to FIGS. 6-7, a suitably sized piece of grid plate member 10 is cut from the grid plate 1 and pressed into the thinset 102 in the mosaic tile cavity 100. The dollops of thinset 102 should ooze through and around the plurality of retention rings 20 to retain the piece of grid plate member 10 in place without substantial sliding or movement. Once the grid plate member 10 is in place, the grid plate member 10 defines a lower surface positioned at a substantially equal depth throughout the mosaic tile cavity 100.

[0058] With reference to FIGS. 8-9, additional thinset 102 is spread over a top of the grid plate member 10 with a margin trowel or a back side of the tile trowel 12.

[0059] With reference to FIGS. 10-11, mosaic tile 104 is then pressed into the thinset 102 in the mosaic tile cavity 100 to complete the tiling task. The underlying grid plate member 10 provides a level surface in which the mosaic tile 104 is installed so that the mosaic tile 104 is level within the mosaic tile cavity 100.

[0060] With reference to FIG. 12, an alternative embodiment of the grid plate assembly 1 is shown including a grid plate 108, a detachable multi-groove tile trowel 110, a detachable small depth measurement tool 112, and a detachable large depth measurement tool 114. In this respect, the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 except that the detachable tools differ and the grid plate 108 also includes retention members in the form of frames 118, as further described below. It is understood that the grid plate assembly 1 may only include the grid plate 108 without the detachable multi-groove tile trowel 110, and detachable depth measurement tools 112, 114 as previously mentioned above.

[0061] It is understood that the grid plate assembly 1, the detachable multi-groove tile trowel 110, and detachable depth measurement tools 112, 114, may be a single integrated injection molded part to facilitate manufacturing of the separable elements 110, 112, 114 connected by injection molded runners 116 providing the breakaway connections. The separable elements may be detached from each other by cutting or snapping off the elements at the ends of the injection molded runners 116 extending between the separable elements 110, 112, 114.

[0062] With reference to FIG. 13, an enlarged view of one embodiment of the grid plate 108 is shown where each of the squares or rectangles 23 of the grid pattern 22 is bordered by a frame 118 of smaller dimension at a lower edge 120 of the square or rectangle 23 serving as an additional retention element. It is understood that the frames 118 may be used alone (see FIG. 16) or in addition to the retention rings 20 (see FIGS. 12-13) as previously described with respect to FIG. 1. The frame 118 may be formed by forming a filled or solid bottom surface or floor 119 at the lower edge 120 of the grid pattern 22 and forming a square or rectangular hole therein leaving the frame 118 to border the squares or rectangles 23 of the grid pattern 22. It is understood that the hole may also be different shapes such as triangle, diamond, oval, and the like. The hole may also form an X shape.

[0063] The frame 118 may be formed in every square or rectangle 23 of the grid pattern 22, or may be formed in repeating patterns, such as every other square or rectangle 23 of the grid pattern 22. The frame 118 provides additional surface area for the grid plate member 10 to contact the underlying thinset 102 as previously described above. In this respect the additional surface area of the smaller square or rectangle 118 assist with retaining the grid plate 108 in place without substantial sliding or movement.

[0064] As seen in FIG. 16, some of the squares or rectangles 23 of the grid pattern 22 may include floor 119 having a screw hole 125 allowing the grid plate 108 to be screwed into place, for example, through drywall, cement board, or plywood, for more accurate fine-tuned installation when embedding the grid plate 108 into thinset 102. The squares or rectangles 23 of the grid pattern 22 with the screw holes 125 may be positioned preferably at the corners of the grid pattern 22, and optionally, also spaced throughout the grid plate 108.

[0065] In use, a suitably sized piece of grid plate member 108 is cut from the grid plate 1 and screwed into the wall, cement board, or plywood, to secure the grid plate member 108 before thinset 102 is spread over a top of the grid plate member 108.

[0066] With reference to FIG. 14, an enlarged view of one embodiment of the multi-groove tile trowel 110 is shown having one side 121 with large notches and corresponding teeth 122 and an opposite side 123 having small notches and corresponding teeth 124. For example, the large notches and teeth 122 may be inch end notches and the small notches and teeth 124 may be 1/16 inch end notches. It is understood that the teeth 122, 124 may be rectangular or triangular in shape.

[0067] The multi-groove tile trowel 110 may also be cut down or reduced to a desired length by breaking off or cutting off, for example, with a cutting tool or wet saw separable portions of the tile trowel 110 at breakaway connections 126 to reduce the length of the tile trowel 110 as desired. The breakaway connections 126 may be formed by grooves extending across the tile trowel 110 to detach strips of the tile trowel 110 decreasing its length.

[0068] With reference to FIG. 15, an enlarged view of one embodiment of the detachable small depth measurement tool 112 is shown having a graspable rectangular plate 128 having triangular hole openings 129 allowing the user's fingers to better grasp the detachable small depth measurement tool 112. Extending downwardly away from the graspable rectangular plate 128 is a stepped ruler 130 having equally spaced steps 131 designating increasing depths of the stepped ruler 130. For example, there may be four steps 131 with each step 131 being approximately 1 cm in height designating depth increments of 1 cm. The stepped ruler 130 may narrow as it moves away from the rectangular plate 128 and as it increases in depth when placed within the thinset 102.

[0069] In use, the detachable small depth measurement tool 112 may be held with the graspable rectangular plate 128 extending vertically and the stepped ruler 130 extending downward into the thinset 102. The user may use the detachable small depth measurement tool 112 to measure a desired depth and press the grid plate member 10 into the thinset 102 within the mosaic tile cavity 100 to that desired and uniform depth.

[0070] It is understood that the larger depth measurement tool 114 is used in a similar manner with the stepped ruler 130 having equally spaced steps 131 but at larger depth increments. For example, each step 131 may be approximately 2 cm in height designating depth increments of 2 cm.

[0071] Certain terminology is used herein for purposes of reference only, and thus is not intended to be limiting. For example, terms such as upper, lower, above, and below refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Terms such as front, back, rear, bottom and side, describe the orientation of portions of the component within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference which is made clear by reference to the text and the associated drawings describing the component under discussion. Such terminology may include the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Similarly, the terms first, second and other such numerical terms referring to structures do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context.

[0072] When introducing elements or features of the present disclosure and the exemplary embodiments, the articles a, an, the and said are intended to mean that there are one or more of such elements or features. The terms comprising, including and having are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements or features other than those specifically noted. It is further to be understood that the method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0073] It is specifically intended that the present invention not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein and the claims should be understood to include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims. All of the publications described herein, including patents and non-patent publications, are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.