FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of tile. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known to use wedge systems to facilitate the installation of tile.

A known wedge system involves wedges and wedge receivers. Each wedge has a planar surface and a ribbed surface orientated in angular relation to one another to meet in an edge. Each wedge receiver has a planar element and a hook element extending from the planar element in substantially perpendicular relation. The hook element has an aperture defined therein. In use, the tiles are laid in a generally conventional manner. The hook elements are used to space apart the tiles, with the planar elements embedded or laid upon the thin set. Each wedge element is threaded through a respective aperture and pushed forward in the direction of the edge such that the tiles are captured between the planar elements of the wedge receivers and the planar surfaces of the wedges; this causes the tiles to align with one another. The ribbed surface of the wedge receiver provides for a tight and reliable grip. After the mortar has set, the wedges are removed, the hook elements are separated from the planar elements by a mallet and the tiles are grouted in a conventional manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Forming one aspect of the invention is an improved wedge system of the type used with tiles and mortar for creating a tiled surface having an array of the tiles arranged in substantially coplanar side-by-side evenly spaced relation. The wedge system includes wedge receivers and wedges.

Each wedge receiver has a planar element and a resilient hook element extending from the planar element in substantially perpendicular relation, the l hook element having an aperture defined therein and being frangibly connected to the planar element.

Each hook element, in use, is disposed in the manner of a tile spacer between a pair of adjacent tiles in an array of the tiles laid in the mortar, thereby to provide for said substantially even side-by-side spacing of the tiles.

Each planar element, in use, is disposed beneath the pair of adjacent tiles.

Each wedge has a clamping surface and a ribbed gripping surface orientated in angular relation to one another to meet in an edge

Each wedge, in use, extends through the aperture of a respective receiver such that:

• the planar surface of the wedge is positioned in abutting relation against the pair of adjacent tiles;

• the hook element is resiliently deformed, to provide for a clamped engagement of the pair of adjacent tiles between the planar surface of the wedge and the planar element, thereby to provide for said substantially coplanar relation ;

• the gripping surface grips the respective wedge receiver, to resist withdrawal of the wedge from the aperture and maintain the clamped engagement until the mortar has cured. The improvement comprises an arcuate arrangement of the ribs.

According to another aspect of the invention, the ribs can be shaped such that, in use, when the wedge is inserted through the aperture of a hook element and the hook element is resiliently deformed, an edge of the hook element that presents towards the ribbed surface of the wedge is use, is itself arcuate and nests in a valley defined between adjacent ribs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. l is a perspective view of the components of a wedge system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is plan view of a mortar bed;

FIG. 3 is a view of the structure of FIG. 2 to which a tile has been secured;

FIG. 4 is a view of the structure of FIG. 3 in use with a plurality of the wedge receivers;

FIG. 5 is a view of the structure of FIG. 4, to which another tile and further wedge receivers have been added

FIG. 6 is a view of the structure of FIG. 5 in use with a pair of the wedges;

FIG. 7 is a view along section 7-7 of FIG. 5; FIG. 8 is a view along section 8-8 of FIG. 6; FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of encircled structure 9 of FIG. 6; and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the structure of FIG. 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 which shows the components of a wedge system 20 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

The wedge system 20 will be understood to be of the general type used with tiles and mortar for creating a tiled surface having an array of the tiles arranged in substantially coplanar side-by-side evenly spaced relation and including wedge receivers 22 and wedges 24.

Each wedge receiver has a planar element 26 and a resilient hook element 28 extending from the planar element in substantially perpendicular relation, the hook element having an aperture 30 defined therein and being frangibly connected to the planar element. Each hook element 28, in use, is disposed in the manner of a tile spacer between a pair of adjacent tiles 14 in an array of the tiles laid in a mortar bed 12, thereby to provide for substantially even side-by-side spacing of the tiles. The planar element 26 from which said each hook element 28 extends, in use, is disposed beneath the pair of adjacent tiles 14, all as shown in FIG. 5 and 7.

Each wedge has a clamping surface 32 and a ribbed gripping surface 34 orientated in angular relation to one another to meet in an edge 36. At the end of the wedge opposite edge 36 is a forcing surface 52 that is disposed at an angle of about 80° to the clamping surface 32. Each wedge, in use, as shown in FIG. 6 and 8 extends through the aperture of a respective receiver such that:

• the planar surface of the wedge is positioned in abutting relation against the pair of adjacent tiles;

• the hook element is resiliently deformed, to provide for a clamped engagement of the pair of adjacent tiles between the planar surface of the wedge and the planar element, thereby to provide for said substantially coplanar relation;

• the gripping surface grips the respective wedge receiver, to resist withdrawal of the wedge from the aperture and maintain the clamped engagement until the mortar has cured.

After the mortar has cured, the wedges are removed and the hook elements are separated from the planar elements by a mallet, by virtue of the frangible connection therebetween.

Persons of ordinary skill will readily appreciate that all of the above is conventional.

The improved wedge system differs from the prior art by virtue of a ribbed surface defined by a plurality of arcuate ribs 38. More specifically, the ribs are shaped such that, in use, when the wedge is inserted through the aperture of a hook element and the hook element is resiliently deformed, an edge 40 of the hook element that presents towards the ribbed surface of the wedge is use, is itself arcuate and nests in a valley 42 defined between adjacent ribs 38.

The improved wedge system has been found to be relatively easy to use and relatively long-wearing when made of materials similar to those of the prior art.

Whereas prior art wedge systems often require pliers to provide for adequate engagement of the wedges, the wedges in the improved wedge system can be easily installed by hand, with the wedge and wedge receiving pinched between the thumb and forefingers, respectively, of the user. Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that the angle of the forcing surface 52 facilitates hand insertion of the wedge. Further, whereas prior art wedges have a tendency to wear along the edges in use, and typically lose effectiveness after about ten uses, wedges of the present invention have proven useful for up to 100 uses. Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that the arcuate arrangement of the ridges provides for the above. Whereas a specific embodiment is shown, variations are possible. For example, only, whereas a single receiver is shown, receivers of differing widths could be provided, to allow for variable tile spacing. Accordingly, the invention should be understood as limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.