GB2331322A

GB2331322A - Annular wall tile spacer

Info

Publication number: GB2331322A
Application number: GB9724075A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger James Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-11-15
Filing date: 1997-11-15
Publication date: 1999-05-19
Also published as: GB9724075D0

Abstract

An annular wall tile spacer comprising a flat disk with four rectangular posts of uniform thickness projecting from the disk, spaced 90 degrees apart on the surface facing the tiles. The spacer is placed on top of a tile corner with the posts protruding to the bottom surface of the tiles and separating the tiles from each other by a uniform distance. The spacer does not become embedded in the comer and can be easily removed and reused by means of a handle attached to the spacer's surface opposite the tiles. An annular window in the centre of the tile spacer allows the tile comer to be viewed without disturbing the spacer. The top surface of the annular tile spacer adjacent to the handle is flat allowing the levelness of the surface to be checked using a spirit level resting on this surface.

Description

2331322 - 1, An Annular Wall Tile Spacer This invention relates to an

annular wall tile spacer.

Wall tile spacers have been used for achieving a uniform distance between wall tiles and aiding the alignment of wall tiles as they are being affixed to the wall.

Existing wall tile spacers in the shape of a cross which are imbedded between the corner of the tiles and below the tile surface have significant shortcomings. The spacers can fall into the grout behind the tiles thereby defeating their purpose and causing a rise behind the tile, they can become stuck in the grout and are then not easily removed and they do not aid in making a levelled tile surface.

According to the present invention, there is provided an annular wall tile spacer comprising a flat disk with four rectangular posts of uniform thickness projecting from the disk, spaced 90 degrees apart on the surface facing the tiles. A handle is attached to the tile spacer on the other surface facing away from the tiles for easy extraction. The shortcomings of existing tile spacers are eliminated by placing the annular tile spacer over the tile corner in aligning the tiles instead of the usual method of embedding the spacer in the corner. The spacer will not become imbedded in the grout and can easily be removed and reused when done. A central hole can be provided in the disk allowing the tile corner to be viewed. A flat surface is provided adjacent to the handle by which the levelness of the wall can be gauged and adjusted.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 shows the tile spacer, top view, side view, in position over a tile corner and in perspective.

Referring to Figure 1, the rectangular posts 1 that separate the tiles from each other by a uniform distance are shown displaced by 90 degrees around the annulus. The annulus provides a clear centre 2 through which the tile corner can be viewed. A handle is attached to the spacer's upper surface 3 allowing easy extraction of the tile spacer. The upper surface 4 adjacent to the handle is flat and can be used to level the tile surface with the aid of a spirit level.

Claims

1 An annular wall tile spacer comprising a flat disk with four rectangular posts of uniform thickness projecting from the disk, spaced 90 degrees apart on the surface facing the tiles.

2 An annular wall tile spacer as in Claim 1 wherein a hole is provided to allow the tile corner to be viewed without disturbing the annular tile spacer.

3 An annular wall tile spacer as in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the central hole can be replaced by a projecting round column at the centre of the disk which would provide a locating surface for the tile corners.

4 An annular wall tile spacer as in Claim 1 wherein the disk can be made from transparent material allowing the tile corner to be viewed.

An annular wall tile spacer as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a handle is Z attached to the surface opposite to the surface resting on the tiles in order to easily extract C the annular tile spacer without damage once the grout has set and enable the spacer to be reused.

6 An annular wall tile spacer as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a flat surface is provided adjacent to the handle on which the levelness of the tiles at the corner can be checked by means of a spirit level, for instance.

7 An annular wall tile spacer as in claim 6 wherein a flat surface is provided on the handle and the handle is horizontally oriented on the corner so that the line of tiles can bechecked by means of a spirit level, for instance.