This invention relates in particular, but not exclusively, to a removable tile spacer for use as a tiling aid.

A burgeoning Do-It- Yourself (DIY) market means that an increasing number of people. chose to improve their own homes. Often this improvement includes the laying of new wall or floor tiles.

The tiles come in differing shapes and sizes. In addition it is also possible to vary the arrangement of tiles relative to one another.

When arranging the tiles on a support surface it is necessary to provide a predetermined gap between adjacent tiles to allow for grouting between the tiles.

It is known to insert elongate spacers having a pre-determined width between the tiles in order to ensure the necessary spacing. Although such spacers act to space adjacent tiles from one another, they do not act to positively locate the lateral position of one tile relative to another.

In addition, usually two elongate spacers are required for each side of a tile. Consequently the insertion of the spacers is laborious and time-consuming.

Furthermore, a single elongate spacer cannot provide any guidance as to the positioning of a third tile adjacent to two tiles separated by the said elongate spacer.

Therefore it is a general aim of the invention to provide a removable spacer, for use as a tiling aid, which, is quick and intuitive to insert between adjacent tiles in order to both space adjacent tiles form one another and also positively locate them relative to one another.

According to the invention there is provided a removable tile spacer, for use as a tiling aid when laying wall or floor tiles on a support surface, the tile spacer comprising a body having at least three different projection formations, each projection formation being adapted for seating engagement with adjacent corners of a pair of neighbouring tiles in order to space, in use, opposed sides of said pair of tiles from one another to define an elongate gap therebetween and to positionally locate said pair of tiles relative to one another along said gap, the body further including at least three grip formations, each grip formation being spaced from a respective one of said projection foπnations to enable an operative to hold the body for inserting the respective projection formation in between adjacent tiles and for gripping the body to permit withdrawal of the body from in between said adjacent tiles.

Preferably one of the projection formations is in the form of a 'T' shaped rib depending from a respective one of the grip formations.

Conveniently one of the projection formations is in the form of a cross-shaped rib depending from a respective one of the grip formations.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention one of the projection formations is in the form of a 'Y' shaped rib depending from a respective one of the grip formations.

The foregoing rib features allow a user to use a tile spacer for a desired tile arrangement, the user simply orientating the spacer as necessary to select the projection formation. Furthermore, the T-, cross-, or Y-shaped rib is engageable, in use, with adjacent corners of three or more tiles, thereby positionally locating the said three or more tiles relative to one another.

Conveniently the height of the or each said ribs exceeds the thickness of said tiles so as to space, in use, the respective grip formation from the outer surface of said tiles. This arrangement ensures that an operative can easily grip and thereby remove the tile spacer from in between adjacent tiles.

Optionally the body includes a first projection formation spaced from a first grip formation, a second projection formation spaced from a second grip formation and a third formation spaced from a third grip formation. An advantage of this arrangement is that it allows the tile spacer to adopt a compact shape having a substantially cuboid outer envelope. An operative can easily handle and orientate such a shape.

Preferably at least one of the projection formations or the grip formations includes a planar surface for receiving an identifier to allow an operative to distinguish between differing tile spacers.

There now follows a brief description of preferred embodiments of the invention, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures l(a) and l(b) show perspective views of a tile spacer according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figures 2(a) to 2(f) show views of respective sides of the tile spacer according to the first embodiment of the invention;

Figures 3 (a) and 3(b) show perspective views of a tile spacer according to a second embodiment Of the invention;

Figures 4(a) to 4(f) show views of respective sides of the tile spacer according to the second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 5 shows the tile spacer according to the first embodiment of the invention in use.

A removable tile spacer according to a first embodiment of the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The tile spacer 10 comprises a body 12 that includes first, second and third 14, 16, 18 projection formations.

The first projection formation 14 is in the form of a "T shaped rib 2O ₅ the second projection formation 16 is in the form of a cross-shaped rib 22, and the third projection formation 18 is in the form of a 'Y' shaped rib 24.

In other embodiments of the invention differing numbers and arrangements of ribs are also possible.

Each rib 20, 22, 24 is shaped to define a seat into which adjacent corners of a pair of neighbouring tiles are able to be seatingly located so as to space opposed sides of the pair of tiles from one another to define an elongate gap therebetween. Each rib 20, 22, 24 also positionally locates the pair of tiles relative to one another.

The inclusion of three ribs 20, 22, 24 having different shapes allows an operative to use a single removable tile spacer for a variety of different tile arrangements. The user simply orientates the spacer as necessary to select a desired rib shape.

The body 12 also includes first, second and third grip formations 26, 28, 30. Each grip formation 26, 28, 30 enables an operative to hold the body 12 for inserting a respective projection formation 14, 16, 18 in between adjacent tiles. The grip formations 26, 28, 30 also allow the operative to grip the body 12 to permit withdrawal of the body 12 from in between the adjacent tiles.

The first grip formation 26 lies spaced from and opposite the T-shaped rib 20 of the first projection formation 14. In the embodiment shown, the first grip formation 26 is defined by the Y-shaped rib 24 of the third projection formation 18.

The second grip formation 28 lies spaced from and opposite the cross-shaped rib 22 of the second projection formation 16. In the embodiment shown, the second grip formation 28 is defined by a crossbar portion 32 of the T-shaped rib 20 and respective first and second arms 34, 36 of the Y-shaped rib 24.

The crossbar portion 32 and the first and second arms 34, 36 also cooperate to prevent an operative inserting this combination of elements in between -adjacent tiles. This is because the arrangement of the crossbar portion 32 and the first and second amis 34, 36 does not correspond to the interface between adjacent tiles in any conventional tile arrangement.

Similarly, the first arm 34 of the Y-shaped rib 24, the crossbar 32 of the T-shaped rib 20, and a first leg 38 of the cross-shaped rib 22 cooperate to prevent insertion of this combination of elements in between adjacent tiles.

Also the second arm 36 of the Y-shaped rib 24, the crossbar 32 of the T-shaped rib 20, and a second leg 40 of the cross-shaped rib 22 cooperate to prevent insertion of this combination of elements in between adjacent tiles.

The third grip formation 30 lies spaced from and opposite the Y-shaped rib 24 of the third projection formation 18. In the embodiment shown, the third grip formation 28 is defined by the T-shaped rib 20 of the first projection formation 14.

The arrangement of respective projection formations 14, 16, 18 and grip formations 26, 30, 32 spaced from and opposite one another results in a compact tile spacer 10 having a substantially cuboid outer envelope. Such a shape is easy to handle and orientate.

The height of each rib 20, 22, 24 exceeds the thickness of respective tiles. Consequently during use a respective grip formation 26, 28, 30 is spaced from the outer surface of the said tiles. This means that the grip formation 26, 28, 30 is readily grippable by an operative to allow for removal of the tile spacer 10.

The crossbar 32 of the T-shaped rib 20 defines a planar surface 42 that includes the graphic "2mm", thereby indicating to an operative the thickness of the ribs in this particular spacer 10. In other embodiments of the invention differing portions of the body 12 may include other types of identifier that allow an operative to distinguish between different tile spacers 10.

In the first embodiment each rib 20, 22, 24 has substantially the same thickness of 2mm. Other embodiments may include ribs which have differing thicknesses.

In addition, in other embodiments different thicknesses of rib are possible. Figures 3 and 4 show a tile spacer 50 according to a second embodiment of the invention having a rib thickness of 7mm.

The tile spacer includes a similar body 52 that is similar to the body 12 of the first embodiment. The body 12 has first, second and third projection formations 54, 56, 58 with respective T-shaped, cross-shaped, and Y-shaped ribs 60, 62, 64. The bod)' 52 also includes corresponding grip formations 66, 68, 70.

The inclusion of ribs having a thickness of 7mm results in modifications to the projection formations 54, 56, 58 compared to those 14, 16, 18 of the first embodiment. Essentially these modifications involve the provision of strengthening ribs 72 on each of the projection formations 14, 16, 18. In addition the cross-shaped rib 62 has a hollow core in order to reduce the amount of material required for its manufacture while maintaining a desired degree of structural rigidity. The remaining features of the second embodiment tile spacer 50 are essentially the same as those in the first embodiment.

In each of the first and second embodiments 10, 50 of the invention the corners 74 of each rib 20, 22, 24; 60, 62, 64 are rounded to make the spacer more comfortable to handle and easy to insert between adjacent tiles.

Figure 5 shows tile spacers 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention in use.

Initially an operative places tiles on a support surface 88, e.g. a vertical wall or floor of a building, with suitable tile adhesive located therebetween. Adjacent tiles are initially roughly located in the desired pattern arrangement.

The operative then inserts tile spacers 10 inbetween adjacent corners 76 of neighbouring tiles 78 selecting the appropriate zϊb 20, 22 or 24. Whilst the adhesive is pliable, i.e. not set. the tiles 78 are then re-positioned, if necessary, by sliding the tiles over the support surface in order that the adjacent corners 76 properly seat into the seats defined by the inserted rib. Once the adhesive has set, the operative removes the tile spacers and then grouts the gaps inbetween the tiles in a conventional manner.

When laying a conventional chequered arrangement of tiles the operative orientates the tile spacer 10 so as to present the cross-shaped rib 22 to the neighbouring tiles 78. The operative then engages the cross-shaped rib 22 with four tiles 78 at an intersection 80 thereof so as to provide for a desired spacing between, and relative position of, the tiles 78.

In contrast, when laying a diamond arrangement of tiles 78 the operative orientates the tile spacer 10 so as to present the Y shaped rib 24 to the neighbouring tiles 78. The operative then engages the Y shaped rib 24 with two neighbouring tiles 78 and a square "diamond" tile 82 at an intersection 84 therebetween, thereby ensuring the desired spacing between, and relative positioning of, the tiles 78, 84.

For example, when arranging tiles adjacent to an edge 86 of a support surface 88 the operative orientates the tile spacer 10 so as to present the T shaped rib 20 to the tiles 78. The T shaped rib 20 is then engaged two tiles 78 and the edge 86 at an intersection 90 thereof. In this way the operative is able to ensure the desired spacing between, and relative positioning of the tiles 78 and the edge 86.

When the tiles 78 are secured in position the operative is able to use a respective grip formation 26, 28, 30 to withdraw the body 12 from in between the adjacent tiles 78. Each tile spacer 10 is then reusable.

It will be appreciated that the tile spacer of the present invention enables tiles to be easily and accurately spaced from one another to define a regular and disciplined ^•

desired pattern having an appearance usually associated with professionally laid tiles. Since the preferred tile spacer includes several different comer seats they can be supplied in bulk to the user and the user, b) ^r selecting the appropriate seat on a given spacer, can produce a wide variety of tile patterns. Also once the adhesive has set and the spacers are removed, they can be re-used for laying additional tiles.