Using modern construction methods, for example using steel frames, buildings can be constructed more cheaply and quickly as compared with traditional building methods, example bricks and mortar. However, the newer type of structures often lack the traditional surface finish which is desired by many.

For example, if a traditional brick and mortar finish is desired, partial bricks (brick slips) are used as cladding which can be used to give a traditional appearance to a building (or part of a building) constructed using more modern methods.

The use of brick slips to clad walls is widely known. However, existing arrangements for securing the brick slips have disadvantages.

It is possible to secure the brick slips by means of an adhesive. However, the cladding is then reliant on the strength and longevity of the adhesive and it is also more difficult to position the brick slips accurately with respect to one another.

As an alternative, metal supports can be secured to the surface to be clad and the brick slips can then be secured to the supports. The advantage of using metal supports is that they can be accurately positioned with respect to one another, thereby allowing very accurate alignment of the brick slips.

One example of a known metal tile support is disclosed in GB 2 331 770 A which discloses a tile support having vertically spaced-apart flanges projecting away from a central structure. The flanges include an upper flange having a downwardly extending lip and a lower flange having a tile retention protrusion in its upper surface. The lip of the upper flange of each support is received in an open-topped channel defined by the lower flange of the next adjacent upper flange and a tile is secured between the upper flange and the lower flange.

In that arrangement, the upper flange is used both to engage with an adjacent support and to retain a tile. This can compromise the accurate alignment of the tiles and can detract from the final appearance. It is an aim of the present invention to overcome or alleviate the problems associated with the prior art.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, an elongate tile support comprises: a main elongate planar body portion having first and second substantially parallel elongate edges; a first flange portion extending from a first of the substantially parallel elongate edges and projecting away from the plane of the main body portion; a profiled portion at the second of the substantially parallel elongate edges, comprising a upwardly-open channel and a downwardly-open channel; the tile support further comprising a tile-retaining flange inclined with respect to the main body portion.

The downwardly-open channel is configured to receive the first flange portion of identical tile support located immediately below, whereby a series of tile supports can be accurately located with respect to one another over a surface to which tiles are to be attached. The upwardly-open channel is configured to receive a portion of a tile to be secured.

In contrast to prior art arrangements, in which the same flange is used to both engage with another tile support and secure a tile, in the present invention a tile-retaining flange, distinct from the flange for engagement with an adjacent identical tile support is provided, which results in a more secure mounting of the tiles.

Preferably, the tile-retaining flange is located between the first flange portion and the profiled portion.

The tile support may comprise a further profiled portion at the first of the substantially parallel elongate edges, and wherein the first flange portion forms part of the further profiled portion.

The tile-retaining flange may form part of the further profiled portion. In one embodiment, the first flange portion comprises a first portion projecting away from the plane of the main body portion and a second overturned portion which lies adjacent to the first portion.

The tile-retaining flange may extend from an end of the second overturned portion.

Preferably, the first flange portion, the profiled portion at the second of the substantially parallel elongate edges and the tile-retaining flange project towards the same side with respect to the main body portion.

The tile support preferably comprises a recessed portion between the upwardly-open channel and the tile-retaining flange for receipt of a tile to be secured in the support.

The tile-retaining flange preferably comprises a plurality of projections for engagement with a portion of a tile.

Preferably, the projections extend towards the upwardly-open channel.

Preferably, the downwardly-open channel is closer than the upwardly-open channel to the main body portion.

Preferably, the outer edge of the profiled portion at the second end of the substantially parallel elongate edges and/or the outer edge of the tile-retaining flange comprises an inclined lip portion.

Preferably, the tile-retaining flange extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the main body portion.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, and elongate tile support comprises: a substantially planar web portion having first and second longitudinally extending substantially parallel edges; first and second elongate profiled portions located respectively at the first and second longitudinally extending edges; the first profiled portion comprising a first flange projecting away from the plane of the web portion; and the second profiled portion comprising an upwardly-open channel and a downwardly- open channel; the tile support further comprising a second, tile-retaining flange inclined with respect to the web portion.

As for the first aspect of the present invention, the downwardly-open channel is configured to receive the first flange portion of identical tile support located immediately below, whereby a series of tile supports can be accurately located with respect to one another over a surface to which tiles are to be attached. The upwardly-open channel is configured to receive a portion of a tile to be secured.

In contrast to prior art arrangements, in which the same flange is used to both engage with another tile support and secure a tile, in the present invention a tile-retaining flange, distinct from the flange for engagement with an adjacent identical tile support is provided, which results in a more secure mounting of the tiles.

In addition, by having a tile-retaining flange separate from the flange which engages with an identical tile support located above, it is possible to conceal the tile support when the tiles are attached.

Preferably, the tile-retaining flange is located between the first flange and the second profiled portion.

In one embodiment, the tile-retaining flange forms part of the further profiled portion.

The first flange may comprise a first portion projecting away from the plane of the web portion and a second overturned portion which lies adjacent to the first portion.

The tile-retaining flange may extend from an end of the second overturned portion.

Preferably, the first and second profiled portions and the tile-retaining flange project towards the same side with respect to the web portion. Preferably, the tile support comprises a recessed portion between the upwardly-open channel and the tile-retaining flange for receipt of a tile to be secured in the support.

Preferably, the tile-retaining flange comprises a plurality of projections for engagement with a portion of a tile.

Preferably, projections extend towards the upwardly-open channel.

Preferably, the downwardly-open channel is closer than the upwardly-open channel to the web portion.

The outer edge of the second profiled portion and/or the outer edge of the tile-retaining flange may comprise an inclined lip portion.

Preferably, the tile-retaining flange extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the web portion.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, a cladding member comprises: a main body comprising a substantially planar front face having upper and lower edges; a first elongate projection extending upwardly beyond the edge of the front face of the main body from a location rearwardly of the front face; and a second elongate projection extending downwardly from a location rearwardly of the front face of the main body; wherein the first elongate projection comprises an upper face having one or more projections for engagement with a retaining portion of a support.

Preferably, the or each projection on the upper face of the first elongate projection is elongate.

The cladding member may comprise a plurality of projections on the upper face of the first elongate projection; In one embodiment, the cladding member comprises a plurality of ribbed members on the upper face of the elongate projection.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support in accordance with the first and/or second aspect of the present invention in combination with a cladding member in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention.

By way of example only, a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one end of an embodiment of tile support in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the tile support of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is an enlarged front view of a tile retaining tab forming part of the tile support of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-section of the tile support of Figure 1 , showing a tile (brick slip) being located in position; and

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section through a portion of a wall fitted with a plurality of inter-engaging tile supports of Figure 1 , to which tiles (brick slips) have been fitted.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, one end of a tile support 10 is shown and is formed by folding or bending an elongate planar strip of metal to form the cross-sectional shape shown in Figure 2. The tile support is elongate and can be of any desired length, and only one end is illustrated in Figure 1 .

The tile support comprises a planar elongate rectangular main elongate body portion or web portion 12 having upper and lower edges 14, 16. A first, upwardly- and forwardly- inclined profiled flange portion 18 extends from the upper edge 14 of the main elongate body portion or web portion 12, forming an upper edge 20 of the tile support and a second forwardly- inclined flange portion 24 projects from a fold 22 which defines the lower inner edge of the flange 18. The flange portion 18 is formed by bending the upper portion 26 of the planar strip of metal forwardly at an angle a of 15° and folding the metal back on itself to form a second leaf 28 extending parallel to, but slightly spaced from, the upper portion 26. The second flange portion 24 projects forwardly of the lower edge of the leaf 28 (corresponding to the fold line 22) and projects perpendicularly to the planar main elongate body portion or web portion 12. The outermost portion of the flange portion 24 is inclined upwardly at an angle b of 45° to form a lip 29.

The lower end of the tile support is profiled to form a first, downwardly-open channel 30 for receipt of an upper flange portion 18 of an identical tile support located immediately underneath and a second, upwardly-open channel 32 for receipt of a portion of a tile to be retained, as will be explained. The downwardly-open channel 30 and the upwardly-open channel 32 are formed by bending the lowermost portion of the elongate planar metal strip to form a first upwardly-extending flange 34 inclined at an angle g of 15° to the main elongate body portion 12 from the lower edge of the main body portion 12. The flange 34 forms the inner wall of the downwardly-open channel 30 and the upper edge of the flange 34 is contiguous with a second downwardly-extending flange 36 which is inclined at an angle d of 45° with respect to the first flange 34. The flange 36 forms the outer wall of the downwardly- open channel 30 and the inner wall of the upwardly-open channel 32. The base of the upwardly-open channel 32 is formed by a further flanged portion 38 extending contiguously with the lower edge of the flanged portion 36 and extending perpendicularly to the main elongate body portion 12 and a further flanged portion 40 contiguous with the outer edge of the flanged portion 38 extends upwardly at an angle e of 20“with respect to the flanged portion 38 and forms the outer wall of the upwardly-open channel 32. The outermost portion of the flange 40 is formed into a lip 42 inclined forwardly at an angle of 30“with respect to the flange 40.

A region 44 is defined between the undersurface of the second flange portion 24 and the upwardly-open channel 32 for receipt of a tile, as will be explained.

As shown in the figures, retaining tabs 46 are formed in the forwardly-projecting flange portion 24 at the upper end of the tile support. The tabs formed by a pressing operation and, as best seen in Figures 1 to 3, comprise a projecting portion 48 which projects downwardly from the undersurface of the flange 24. The aperture of each pressed portion is approximately 13 mm long and approximately 5 mm wide and projects downwardly by approximately 1 .5 mm. The centres of adjacent tabs are spaced apart by a distance of 46.6 mm and, as best seen in Figure 3, the projecting portion 48 is generally in the form of a trapezium when viewed from the front and, as best seen in Figure 2, is generally wedge -shaped when viewed from the side In use, a required length of tile support 10 is cut and, as shown in Figure 5, is secured to a wall 50 by means of a series of screws 52 passing through apertures (not shown) in the main elongate body portion 12. The tile support 10 is typically orientated so that its uppermost and lowermost edges extend horizontally, but this is not essential.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, further elongate tile supports 10 may be positioned immediately above, and immediately below, the first tile support 10. As shown in the figures, the forwardly-inclined flanged portion 18 extending from the upper edge of the main elongate body portion 12 of one tile support is received in the downwardly-open channel 30 in a tile support located immediately above, thereby accurately and reliably positioning the tile supports with respect to one another. The required number of tile supports can be attached as shown in the figures to cover the area to which tiles are to be fixed.

The tiles (commonly referred to as“brick slips”) 60 which are intended to be secured by the tile supports 10 are generally rectangular in shape when viewed from the front and comprise a rectangular main body portion 62 having a flat front face 64. An upper securing flange 66 projects upwardly from the upper face of the main body portion 62 and is set back from the upper face 64. The upper face 68 of the securing flange 66 and extends perpendicularly to the front face 64 and is provided with four parallel longitudinally-extending elongate recesses 70. The rear face 72 of the upper flange 66 is flat and is parallel to the front face 66 and the upper edges 74, 76 of the flange 66 are bevelled.

A second, lower securing flange 80 projects from the rear face of the main body portion 62 and is spaced from the upper flange 66 by means of an elongate recess 82. The flange 80 is located upwardly of the upper edge of the front face 64 and is shaped to be received in the upwardly-open channel 32 of the tile support.

As best seen in Figure 4, in order to secure the tile (brick slip) to the tile support 10, the lower flange 80 of the tile (brick slip) 60 is located in the upwardly-open channel 32 of the tile support. The tile is then pivoted rearwardly which engages the upper upper face 68 of the upper flange 66 with the downwardly-projecting tabs 46 in the outwardly extending flange 24. Further pivoting causes the longitudinally-extending elongate recesses 70 in the upper face of the upper flange 66 to engage with, and be retained by, the tabs 46 when the rear face 72 of the upper flange 66 is in abutment with the front face of the main body portion 12. The spacing between the uppermost surface of the upper flange 66 and the lowermost surface of the lower flange 80 is chosen so that in order to engage the upper flange 66 of the tile 60 with the tabs 46, it is necessary for the flange 24 to elastically deform. Further tiles or brick slips 60 are secured in the same manner, until tiles have been secured to the whole of the area to be covered. After the whole area has been covered, the joint between adjacent tiles (brick slips) are normally pointed with mortar.

By having a first, upper flange 18 for engagement with the undersurface of an identical tile support located immediately above and a separate flange 24 for engaging with and retaining the upper edge of a tile, the tiles are retained more securely on the tile support.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment.