GB2278134A

GB2278134A - Tiled floor installation

Info

Publication number: GB2278134A
Application number: GB9310187A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Kenneth Adams
Original assignee: Construction Specialties Inc
Current assignee: EMEH Inc
Priority date: 1993-05-18
Filing date: 1993-05-18
Publication date: 1994-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 2013-05-18
Also published as: GB2278134B; GB9310187D0

Abstract

A device for installation in a floor surface such as a tiled, marble or terrazzo surface in the form of two strips 3 of metal or plastics held together by a expansion absorbing elastomeric material 5. The side walls of each strip have outwardly facing spacer members in the form of ribs or protuberances 6 to ensure that when the tile surface is laid, a space remains between the tiles and the side walls of the strip. The projecting rib or protuberance 6 provides a grout line depth enabling a constant grout width to be introduced to give the whole installation a pleasing and more attractive appearance. <IMAGE>

Description

FLOOR INSTaLLATION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for installation in a floor surface such as a tiled, marble or terrazzo surface or the like, to absorb movement of the surface and minimise cracking and disintegration thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENT ION Such devices are known comprising profiled strips of material formed in most cases of brass or aluminium for setting in a floor surface of the type described above at appropriate locations.

The known strips incorporate spaced side walls bonded together by a filling of elastomeric material such as neoprene which provides the required yieldability during movement of the floor surface, the side walls having lower anchorage flanges or tabs.

With this design it is not easy for a flooring contractor to form a neat join between the chosen floor surface of the type described running along the side walls of the dividing strip whicn leads to an unsightly and uneven appearance. Furthermore, in some cases the floor surface may be brought too close to the side walls making it difficult properly to insert the grouting material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

According to the invention there is provided a device for installation in a floor surface such as a tiled, marble or terrazzo surface and the like to compensate for movement thereof and reduce cracking comprising a pair of elongate side walls, an elastomeric material between the side walls and bonded to the side walls to hold the side walls in spaced relationship, anchorage flanges extending outwardly along the lower edges of the side walls of the strip, a projecting rib member extending along the outer surface of each said side wall and at a predetermined distance from the top edges thereof to enable said side walls to be spaced a predetermined distance from the floor surface brought into abutment therewith, said projecting rib member establishing a grout line depth as between its position on a respective one of said side walls and the top edge thereof.

The material of the strip may be either of plastics or metal.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTiON Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a cross sectional view showing a tile dividing strip according to an embodiment of the invention installed in position in a tiled surface.

Referring to the drawing, the tile dividing strip 1 shown installed in a tiled surface comprises a pair of side strips 2 made either of plastics or metal.

Each side strip 2 is formed of a side wall 3 and a bottom flange 4 extending outwardly at right-angles to the side wall 3. The side strips 2 are retained together by means of a filler 5 of an elastomeric material such as neoprene bonded to the inner surfaces of the side walls 3.

Each side wall 3 is provided, at a predetermined distance from the top edge thereof, with a projecting rib 6 of constant depth extending along its length, the rib 6 being positioned at a predetermined distance from the top edge 7 thereof.

Each projecting rib 6 forms a tile spacer acting to space adjacent tiles T a predetermined distance from the side walls 3 of the dividing strip 1.

By this means, a tiler is able to position the tiles T to either side of the side walls 3 neatly in position without having to gauge the distance between the tiles and the side walls 3 of the strip 1 with the eye.

Moreover, the provision of the projecting ribs 6 make it possible to form a constant grout width along the length of the dividing strip 1 to give a pleasing and more attractive appearance. Inasmuch as the spacing is constant along the dividing strip 1 and of a chosen size, it becomes easier to fill with grout and make sure that no voids are left causing the joint readily to deteriorate with time.

As shown in the drawing, the bottom flanges 4 of the tile dividing strip 1 rest on a concrete screed C forming the backing for tfle tiles T and are held in position in the tile adhesive A. Alternatively, the tile dividing strip 1 may be screw mounted through the flanges 4 to the concrete screed C.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a tiled surface, it will be appreciated that it is equally useful for installation in like surfaces such as marble or terrazzo, as indicated in the preamble to the specification.

Claims

1. A device for use in installing a floor surface comprising a pair of elongate side walls, an expansion absorbing elastomeric material between the side walls and bonded to the side walls to hold the side walls in spaced relationship and a spacer member extending along the outer surface of each said side wall and at a predetermined distance from the top edges thereof so that a well defined gap for grouting purposes is formed between the side walls of the strip 9 and the floor surface brought into abutment therewith.

2. A device for installation in a floor surface such as a tiled, marble or terrazzo surface and the like to compensate for movement thereof and reduce cracking comprising a pair of elongate side walls, an elastomeric material between the side walls and bonded to the side walls to hold the side walls in spaced relationship, anchorage flanges extending outwardly along the lower edges of the side walls of the strip, and a projecting rib member extending along the outer surface of each said side wall and at a predetermined distance from the top edges thereof to enable said side walls to be spaced a predetermined distance from the floor surface brought into abutment therewith, said projecting rib member establishing a grout line depth as between its position on a respect one of said side walls and the top edge thereof.

3. A device as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the material of the strip is either plastics or metal.

4. A device for installation in a floor surface substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.