Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a surfacing measurement tool, a method of measuring the position of a projection within a gap for a piece of surfacing and a method of cutting surfacing.

Background to the Invention

When laying a surfacing, for example tiles in a bathroom, it is necessary to place surfacing around projections extending from the floor, wall or ceiling upon which the surfacing is being laid through the space in which the surfacing is to be positioned. Such projections include piping extending from the floor, wall or ceiling to radiators, sinks, boilers or the like in the room, carrying utilities such as water or gas. Recesses and/or apertures are cut into pieces of surfacing prior to the pieces being laid. These recesses and/or apertures can then accommodate the projections.

When laying a piece of surfacing in a gap through which a projection extends, a user must measure the position of the projection within the gap. This is typically done with a ruler or tape measure. A corresponding position must then be marked on the piece of surfacing so that it can be cut. The act of measuring the position of the projection requires at least three distances to be measured - the distance from the centre of the projection to each of two different sides and at least part of the perimeter of the projection. However, these measurements can be difficult to make. Therefore, in reality multiple measurements are required to mitigate the chances that an error in determined distances. The method is therefore relatively time consuming and difficult to carry out. Even with multiple measurements being taken, it is still relatively common for an error in the determined distances, which results in the piece of surfacing being cut incorrectly. The user must then start again with a new piece of surfacing, and the incorrectly cut piece is then wasted. This method is therefore also relatively expensive to carry out and inefficient.

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to overcome or mitigate at least some of these disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a surfacing measurement tool for measuring the position of a projection within a gap of surfacing, the surfacing measurement tool comprising a first member comprising a measurement edge, a guide comprising a slot shaped to match at least part of a perimeter of the projection, a second member connecting the guide to the first member and at least one locking component which has a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein when the or each locking component is in the unlocked state the guide is movable relative to the measurement edge in at least two directions, the directions being perpendicular to each other and in a plane substantially parallel to the measurement edge, and when the or each locking component is in the locked state the position of the guide relative the measurement edge is locked. The measurement edge of the surfacing measurement tool can be aligned with part of the perimeter of the gap. With the or each locking component in the unlocked state, the guide can then be moved relative to the measurement edge such that the at least part of the perimeter of the projection slots into the slot of the guide. The or each locking component can then be set in the locked state, and the surfacing measurement tool removed from the gap. The surfacing measurement tool can then be placed on the piece of surfacing for laying in the gap, and the measurement edge can be aligned with the perimeter of the piece of surfacing. The position of the slot on the piece of surfacing then corresponds to the position of the projection in the gap, and so can be used as a guide to cut out a hole or recess which can accommodate the projection when the piece of surfacing is laid in the gap.

The tool results in a relatively easy and fast way of determining where to cut the hole or recess in the piece of surfacing. A measurement error is also much less likely when using the tool, and therefore its use reduces the chances of a mis-cut and the piece of surfacing being wasted.

Each member may be substantially cuboidal. The first member may comprise two faces, a first face and a second face and sides extending from the edge of the face to the edge of the second face. The measurement edge may comprise part of the edge each face. The measurement edge may comprise part of the sides. In particular, the measurement edge may comprise part of two adjacent sides of the first member. The second member may comprise two faces and sides extending from the edge of one face to the edge of the other face. Each face may be a polygon. In particular, each face may be rectangular. Each member may be elongate. Each member may comprise an aperture, extending from one face to the other face. The aperture of each member may extend through the centre of the respective member. The aperture of each member may be substantially rectangular, the rectangular shape extending in the same direction as the rectangular shape of the faces. The aperture of each member may be elongate. Each face of each member may be substantially flat. The guide may comprise a substantially cuboidal body, comprising two faces, two long sides and two short sides, the sides extending from the edge of one face to the edge of the other face. The faces may be substantially rectangular. The slot may be semi-circular in shape. The slot may be a recess within at least part of the side of the body. The recess may be in the centre of the respective side. The side may comprise the recess and two flat sections, a flat section either side of the recess.

One of the faces of the substantially cuboidal body may comprise a sloped section, wherein the slope of the sloped section extends towards the other face. The slope may extend for its length from near a centre of the respective face to one of the short sides of the substantially cuboidal body. The width of the slope may be equal to the width of the respective face.

Alternatively, one of the faces of the substantially cuboidal body may comprise a step towards the other face. The step may extend, near a centre of the respective face, from an upper section of the face to a lower section of the face. The lower section of the face may extend for its length from the position near the centre of the substantially cuboidal body to one of the short sides of the substantially cuboidal body. The width of the step may be equal the width of the substantially cuboidal body.

The body may comprise a fastening aperture extending from one face to the other. The fastening aperture may extend through approximately the centre of the body. The guide may comprise a protrusion, wherein the shape of the protrusion corresponds with the shape of the slot. In particular, the cross section of the protrusion may substantially match the shape of the slot. The protrusion may extend from at least part of a side of the body. The side from which the protrusion extends may be on the opposite edge of the body to the side which the recess is within. The protrusion may protrude from the centre of the respective side. The protrusion may have a semi-circular cross section. The side may comprise the protrusion and two flat sections, each flat section adjacent an opposite edge of the protrusion. The or each locking component may comprise a fastener and a body into which the fastener is fastened. The surfacing measurement tool may comprise at least two locking components, wherein a first locking component fastens the first and second members together and the second locking component fastens the second member and the guide. The fastener of the first locking component may extend through an overlap between the apertures of the members and into the body of the first locking component to fasten the members together. The fastener of the second locking component may extend through the fastening aperture of the guide and aperture of the second member into the body of the second locking component to fasten the two together. The or each fastener may comprise a screw. The or each body of the or each locking component may comprise a knob with a hole into which the respective fastener is fastened.

The or each locking component may be movable along the aperture of a member which it fastens, thereby moving the guide relative to the measurement edge. The fastening between the fastener and knob may be tightened to put the or each locking component in the locked state. The fastening between the fastener and the knob may be loosened to put the or each locking component in the unlocked state. The fastener may be attached to the guide or first member, such that the fastening can be tightened or loosened by turning the knob. The fastener may be attached to the guide or first member using an adhesive. The guide and/or first member may be rotatable relative to the second member, thereby moving the guide relative to the measurement edge. The guide or first member may be rotatable around a central axis of the or each fastener so as to rotate relative to the second member. The guide comprising the protrusion allows the entire perimeter of a projection to be marked on the piece of surfacing. The piece of surfacing is therefore easier to cut.

The body may comprise a guiding aperture, extending from one face of the body to the other face. The guiding aperture may extend through the centre of the base of the protrusion. The guiding aperture allows the centre of the aperture for accommodating the projection to be marked, which results in it being easier to drill the aperture into the piece of surfacing.

The surfacing measurement tool may be composed of any of or any combination of the following materials: plastic, metal and/or wood.

The surfacing measurement tool may be a flooring cutting tool. Alternatively or additionally, the surfacing measurement tool may be for cutting surfacing for a wall and/or ceiling.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of measuring the position of a projection within a gap in surfacing comprising the steps of providing a surfacing measurement tool according to the first aspect of the present invention, aligning the measurement edge with at least part of a perimeter of the gap, setting the or each locking component in the unlocked state, moving the guide relative to the measurement edge such that the at least part of the perimeter of the projection is accommodated in the slot of the guide, and setting the or each locking component in the locked state.

The method results in a relatively easy and fast way of determining where to cut the hole or recess in the piece of surfacing. A measurement error is also much less likely when using the tool, and therefore its use reduces the chances of a mis-cut and the piece of surfacing being wasted.

The gap may be a polygon, such that the part of the perimeter is two adjacent sides of the perimeter.

The second aspect of the present invention may comprise any or all of the optional features of the first aspect of the present invention, as desired or appropriate.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of cutting a piece of surfacing, comprising the steps of the method of the second aspect of the present invention, aligning the measurement edge with part of a perimeter of the piece of surfacing corresponding to the part of the perimeter of the gap and cutting an aperture through the piece of surfacing according to the position of the slot.

The method results in a relatively easy and fast way of determining where to cut the hole or recess in the piece of surfacing. A measurement error is also much less likely when using the tool, and therefore its use reduces the chances of a mis-cut and the piece of surfacing being wasted. The cutting the aperture through the piece of surfacing according to the position of the slot may comprise marking the outline of the slot on the piece of surfacing. In particular, it may comprise marking the outline of the recess and adjacent flat sections on the piece of surfacing. Additionally, cutting the aperture through the piece of surfacing according to the position of the slot may comprise unlocking the first locking component, rotating the guide relative the second member such that the flat sections adjacent the protrusion align with the marking of the outline of the flat sections adjacent the recess and locking the first locking component. Additionally, cutting the aperture through the piece of surfacing according to the position of the slot may then comprise one or both of the following: marking the outline of the protrusion and/or marking the centre of the guiding aperture on the piece of surfacing.

The third aspect of the present invention may comprise any or all of the optional features of the first and/or second aspect of the present invention, as desired or appropriate.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a surfacing measurement tool according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a surfacing measurement tool according to the present invention; Figure 3 shows three perspective views of guides for forming part of a surfacing measurement tool according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a side view of a guide for forming part of a surfacing measurement tool according to the present invention, wherein the apertures and recess in the body are visible;

Figure 5 is an exploded view of a locking component forming part of the surfacing measurement tools of figure 1 & 2;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the surfacing measurement tool of figure 1 when in use measuring the position of a cylinder;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the surfacing measurement tool of figure 1 when in use cutting a piece of surfacing; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a surface measurement tool according to the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a surfacing measurement tool 1 comprising two members 2, 3, two locking components 4, 5 and a guide 6. Each member 2, 3 has two faces and sides extending from the edge of one face to the edge of the other. Each face is substantially rectangular, but with rounded off corners, such that each member has two long straight sides and two round short sides. Each member 2, 3 is elongate along the longitudinal axis of each face.

In the centre of each member 2, 3 is an aperture 7. Each aperture 7 extends from one face of the respective member 2, 3 to the other face. The opening of each aperture 7 at each face is rectangular, the rectangle being elongate along the longitudinal axis of the respective member 2. This shape continues along the aperture. For the second member 2, the rectangle of the respective aperture 7 stops just short of the ends of the second member 2. For the first member 3, the rectangular of the respective aperture 7 stops just short of one end of the first member 3. However, relative to the other end the rectangle of the aperture stops at approximately a midway point between the centre of the member 3 and the respective end.

The apertures 7 of each member 2, 3 can have some or all corners of its rectangular shape rounded off, as shown in the embodiment of figure 2.

As shown in figure 3, the guide 6 comprises a substantially cuboidal body. The body has two faces and sides extending from the edge of one face to the edge of the other. A fastening aperture 8 extends through the centre of the body, from one face to the other. The members 2, 3 are arranged such that the apertures 7 overlap. The first locking component 4 extends through this overlap, thereby fastening the two members 2, 3 together. The second member 2 and the guide 6 are arranged such that the aperture

7 of the member 2 and the fastening aperture 8 of the guide 6 overlap. The second locking component 5 extends through this overlap, thereby fastening the guide 6 to the member 2. When all the parts of the surfacing measurement tool 1 are connected in this way, the member 2 lies on top of the guide 6 and the first member 3.

The fastening aperture 8 of the guide 6 has a square opening in the top face of the guide 6, which is the face which abuts the second member 2 when the two are fastened together. As shown in figure 4, the aperture continues to have this shape along its length until roughly midway through the body. The shape of the fastening aperture

8 then changes to a circle, which has a larger diameter than the length of the square. This circle shape continues along the aperture from the midway point in the body to the opening in the other face of the guide 6. The top face of the guide 6 is substantially flat from one short edge to a line just past the fastening aperture 8. The top face of the body then has a sloped section, wherein the top face slopes down from this line to the other short edge of the top face, such that body is thinner towards and at the short side extending between the top face short edge and a short edge of the other face. A recess 9 is formed in part of the short side, the recess 9 having a semi-circular shape. The recess 9 is formed in substantially the centre of the respective short side. The short side therefore comprises the recess 9 and two adjacent flat sections, each flat section being adjacent a respective side of the recess 9.

A protrusion 10 extends from part of the other short side of the guide 6. The protrusion 10 extends from the centre of the short side, being continuous with both faces of the guide 6. The protrusion 10 has a cross-section (through a plane substantially parallel to the sections of the faces with which it is continuous) which is semi-circular, such that the protrusion’s cross-section matches the shape of the recess 9. The short side therefore comprises the protrusion 10 and two flat sections, each flat section being adjacent a respective side of the protrusion 10.

A guiding aperture 11 extends through the centre of the base of the protrusion 10, from the top face of the guide 6 to the other face, wherein the base of the protrusion 10 is where it protrudes from the rest of the body. The guiding aperture 11 has a circular opening in the top face. This circular shape extends through the body to approximately midway through the body, wherein the shape of the guiding aperture 11 begins to narrow. The shape continues to narrow as the guiding aperture 11 approaches the other face. There is then a circular opening in the other face, the bottom face, which has a smaller radius than the opening in the top face. As shown in figure 5, each locking component comprises a knob 12 and a screw 13. The knob 12 comprises a hole with a screw thread, via which the screw 13 is connected to the knob 12 so as to form the locking component 4, 5. When fastening the members 2, 3 together or the second member 2 and the guide 6, the screw 13 extends through the respective overlap into the knob 13. The head of the screw 13 and knob 12 hold the members 2, 3 or member 2 and guide 6 together, thereby fastening them together. When the parts are fastened together, the knobs 13 contact the second member 2 and the head of each screw contacts either the guide 6 or the first member 3. The head of the screw 13 of the respective locking component 5 is fully contained within the circular section of the fastening aperture 8 of the guide 6. The screw 13 is attached to the guide 6 or first member 3 by an adhesive, such that it cannot move relative to the guide 6 or first member 3.

The locking components 4, 5 have two states, the particular state depending upon the extent to which the screw 13 is turned into the hole in the knob 12. The first setting is a locked state, in which the locking component 4, 5 is tightened by turning the respective knob 12 such that one member 2, 3 cannot move along the other member 2, 3 or the guide 6 cannot move along the member 2 (or at least such movement is inhibited). In addition, in this state the members 2, 3 cannot rotate relative to each other, or the guide 6 rotate relative to the member 2 (or such rotation is at least inhibited). The second state is an unlocked state, in which the locking component 4, 5 is loosened such that it can move along (or at least is not inhibited from moving along) the rectangular shape of the apertures 7 in the members 2, 3. Such movement allows the members 2, 3 to along each other, or the guide 6 to move along the second member 2. In addition, in this state the central axis of the screw 13 of each locking component 4, 5 acts as a pivot, around which the members 2, 3 can rotate so as to rotate relative to each other (or the guide can rotate so as to rotate relative to the second member 2).

In use, as shown in figure 6, the surfacing measurement tool 1 is positioned over a gap 14 into which a piece of surfacing is to be inserted. The gap has a cylinder 15 (i.e. projection) extending through it, substantially perpendicular to the floor of upon which the surfacing is being laid. The locking components 4, 5 of the tool 1 begin in the unlocked state. A long side of the first member 3 and adjacent short side (i.e. the measurement edge) are aligned with a perimeter of the gap 14. Then, the second member 2 is moved along the first member 3 and rotated relative to it, and the guide 6 is moved along the second member 2 and rotated relative to it, until the recess 9 contacts part of the circumference of the cylinder 15. At this point, the locking components 4, 5 are tightened such that they are locked. This ensures the positions of the members 2, 3 and guide 6 relative to each other are fixed.

As shown in figure 3, the radius of the semi-circular shape of the recess 9 and the cross-section of the protrusion 10 can vary. The choice of radius is dictated by the size of the cylinder to be measured. The screw 13 of the locking component 5 can be removed from the respective knob 12 so that the guide 6 can be removed and replaced by a guide 6 with a different sized radius.

As shown in figure 7, the surfacing measurement tool 1 is then transferred to lie atop a piece of surfacing 16 to be fit into the gap 14. The long side and adjacent short side of the first member 3 which were aligned with the perimeter of the gap 14 are aligned with the corresponding perimeter of the piece of surfacing 16. The outline of the short side of the guide 6 comprising the recess 9 can then be drawn around or marked on the piece of surfacing 16 in some other way. The tool 1 can then be removed from atop the piece 16, and the marking of the outline of the recess 9 used to cut a hole which matches the size of the cylinder. The piece 16 can then be placed within the gap 14, wherein the cylinder 15 is within the hole of the piece 16. To help cut the hole in the piece 16, it may be preferable for the entire outline of the hole which is to be cut to be marked. Therefore, in an alternative method of cutting the piece of surfacing 16, once the recess 9 outline has been marked on the piece 16 the locking component 5 can be loosened to the unlocked state. In this state, the guide 6 can be rotated 180° relative to the second member 2, until the flat sections adjacent the protrusion 10 align with the markings on the piece 16 due to the outline of the flat sections adjacent the recess 9. The locking component 5 is then tightened into the locked state, and the outline of the projection is marked on the piece 16. Given the alignment of the flat sections adjacent the protrusion 10 with the marking caused by the outline of the flat sections adjacent the recess 9 and the fact the shape of the protrusion’ s cross-section substantially matches the shape of the recess 9, the markings of the outlines of the protrusion 10 and recess 9 will mark out the entire circumference of the hole to be cut.

In another embodiment of the method of cutting the hole, it may be desirable to drill the hole. In this case, in addition or alternatively to marking the outline of the protrusion 10, the marker is inserted in the guiding aperture 11. The narrowing of the guiding aperture 11 causes the marker to be forced towards the centre of the opening in the bottom face of the guide 6, which is then marked. Given the position of the guiding aperture 11 at the centre of the short side and the semi-circular cross section of the projection 10, the marking at the centre of the guiding aperture 11 marks the centre of the hole to be cut. This marking can then be used as a guide to drill.

The material from which the various parts of the surfacing measurement tool 1 can be made can be any of plastic, metal, wood or other similar materials. The size of the tool 1 also varies, being chosen depending on the type of surfacing to be cut. For example, the surfacing measurement tool 1 can be used to cut tiles for bathrooms (when a pipe extends out of the wall, floor or ceiling). As a second example, it can also be used for cutting concrete slabs for placement around lamp posts on pavements.

As shown in figure 8, the guide 6 can be shaped slightly differently. In this embodiment, at the line just past the fastening aperture the top of the guide 6 forms a step from an upper section of the top face to a lower section of the top face, the lower section then extending to one of the short sides of the body, such that body is thinner towards and at the short side extending between the top face short edge and a short edge of the other face. The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.