FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to tools and methods for installing tiles. More particularly, the invention relates to a tile support apparatus and method.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Tiling, for example tiling of kitchen and bathroom walls, requires a good deal of skill in order to produce a pleasing decorative finish. Mistakes can be unsightly and costly to rectify. Awkwardly shaped or uneven surfaces can present challenges even for skilled professionals. It is often desired to tile around recesses such as those formed in alcoves or by window and door apertures. Tiling the upper (downwardly facing) surface of a recess or aperture, such as the top reveal of a window, requires that the tiles be held in place while the adhesive sets. The tiles can be held in place to set with a wood offcut and tightly fitting battens wedged against the window sill or lower reveal but this method is awkward and imprecise and does not facilitate easy levelling of the tiled surface.

GB-A-2 499 244 describes a tiling support tool comprising a straight edge bar and movable grips which can be positioned against opposite side walls of a window recess to support the bar. Multiple paddles project rearwardly from the bar to stop tiles falling off the top sill.

GB-A-2 516 908 discloses a tile support system that supports tiles in place in an upper window area, preferably while a holding adhesive dries to prevent the tiles moving or falling.

ES-A-235 4557 discloses a device useful for leveling tiles when covering a wall. ES-A-105 3553 discloses an adjustable device useful for the support and leveling of tiles.

US-A-2 969 220 discloses a device for elevating and aligning building material. There remains a need for a simple and effective tile support tool that is economical to manufacture, compact to store and carry, and easy to operate.

It is the aim of the present invention to address that need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention provides a tile support apparatus comprising an elongate bar, which includes a levelling device for indicating if the bar is level, the bar supported on two height-adjustable columns, each column being coupled to the bar towards a respective end of the bar, and each column being telescopically adjustable by means of an actuator.

The bar, or“head”, provides a straight edge support for tiles applied to a downwardly facing surface. The built-in level provides the tiler the ability to give a level tile-line in uneven aperture and irregular substrate conditions.

In one embodiment, the bar is a length of metal (e.g. comprising aluminium, steel or other metal) preferably having an angled profile, e.g. having an L-shaped profile. Alternatively, the bar can have a flat profile, square profile, or polygonal profile.

The bar is supported towards each end by a height-adjustable column or upright. Each column is telescopic, that is, it is made up of at least two tubes that can slide relative to one another (e.g. inside one another). The tubes (e.g. the innermost tube wherein at least one tube slides within another, or tubes slide inside one another) may be, but need not be, hollow, i.e. it can be a solid rod. The term tube, as used herein, includes a rod where the context permits. The tube may be of any cross-section: e.g. substantially round, oval, square triangular, polygonal, irregular.

An actuator can be operated to move one tube relative to another in increments and thereby extend the column. By adjusting the heights of each column and observing the levelling device (level indicator) the user can achieve levelling of the bar. The actuator can be released to retract the column. It is envisaged that the levelling device is often arranged to judge a horizontal aspect to aid the operator in providing a horizontal tile support surface. However, the levelling device can alternatively or in addition be arranged to judge an angle other than horizontal, permitting the possibility to use the apparatus to provide a straight edge support for tiling an inclined downwardly facing surface, such as a sloping ceiling or angled recess. In this embodiment, one column is adjusted to be longer than the other so that one end of the bar is higher than the other.

Hence the levelling device may also comprise a measuring device (e.g. a protractor) or measuring devices to determine (and/or set) the angle of the elongate bar with respect to one or both height-adjustable columns.

Preferably, each column includes at its lower end a foot which stands on the bottom reveal or sill or equivalent surface and provides a stable base for the column.

In one embodiment, the actuator may be a trigger-type lever which is easy to operate so that the apparatus can be conveniently operated independently by one person. A hand- operated actuator has the advantage of not requiring any tools for performing height adjustment of the columns.

The function of the columns is to support and position the bar. By coupling one support column towards each end of the bar, the heights of the columns can be independently adjusted to achieve levelling of the bar. Each column is secured to the bar by a fastener such as a screw which passes through a hole pre-drilled in the bar and is anchored to the upper end of the column. The screw may be flat-headed and/or countersunk so as not to protrude overmuch from the upper surface of the bar that is presented to the tiles.

In one embodiment, the or each column is secured to the bar via a connector piece between the column and the bar. The connector piece facilitates connection between the column and the bar and may, for example, be in the form of a metal cylinder threaded at one end so as to allow it to be screwed on to complementary threads in the top end of the column. At the opposite end, the connector may be provided with a threaded bore to receive a screw fastener that secures the bar to the connector, and hence to the column, through a hole provided in the bar.

In a further embodiment, the apparatus includes column extension pieces to extend the column height so the apparatus can be used in larger apertures. The component parts are dimensioned so as to be suitable for the intended use of the apparatus, i.e. as a hand tool for supporting tiles while tiling a recess, e.g. a window recess.

The component parts of the apparatus, i.e. the bar, columns, connectors and fasteners, may be readily disassembled so that the apparatus can be packed away for carriage and/or storage.

Accordingly, in a second aspect, the invention provides a kit of parts including the components of a tile support apparatus as disclosed herein.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a method for tiling a downwardly facing surface, the method comprising the steps of: applying adhesive to the surface; placing one or more tiles on the adhesive; and supporting the tile(s) in place while the adhesive sets by providing an elongate support bar, the bar including a levelling device for indicating if the bar is level, the bar being supported on two height-adjustable columns, each column being coupled to the bar towards a respective end of the bar, and telescopically adjusting the height of the columns by means of a manual actuator until the bar provides a level support for the tile(s) as indicated by the levelling device.

The above method is particularly useful for tiling a surface formed by the reveal of a window or other aperture.

Also provided is a method of temporarily supporting one or more tiles in place on a surface formed by an aperture in a wall, the method comprising: providing an elongate support bar, the bar including a levelling device for indicating if the bar is level, the bar being supported on two height-adjustable columns, each column being coupled to the bar towards a respective end of the bar, and telescopically adjusting the height of the columns by means of a manual actuator until the bar provides a level support for the tile(s) as indicated by the levelling device. The method can be used for temporarily supporting tiles in place within an aperture (such as a window reveal) in a wall, and also for temporarily supporting tiles in place on the wall which are adjacent to the aperture, i.e. which abut the edge of the aperture. In both cases, the support bar provides a level, straight edge to support the tiles in place until the adhesive sets, thus facilitating a neat finish. Accordingly, as used herein, the term

“surface formed by an aperture in a wall” includes the surfaces within the aperture, e.g. window reveal, and the wall surface adjacent to, i.e. at the edge of, the aperture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the appended drawings, of which:

Figure l is a partially exploded perspective view of a tile support apparatus according to an embodiment.

Figure 2 is a drawing of a kit comprising the tile support apparatus of Figure 1, disassembled, in a carry case.

Figure 3 is a drawing of the tile support apparatus of Figure 2, assembled and being deployed in a widow recess.

Figure 4 is a drawing of the tile support apparatus of Figure 3, with columns extended to offer the bar to the top sill of the window recess.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention shall now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures.

With reference to Figure 1, the tile support apparatus 100 comprises four main elements: a bar, or“head”, 10, two height-adjustable columns 20, each of which is connected to the bar 10 via a connector piece, or“column-head adaptor”, 30 which is attached to the upper end of the column 20 and receives a screw fastener 40 that secures the bar 10 to the connector piece 30.

The bar 10 is constructed from a solid aluminum, L-shaped bar form with a built-in spirit level (not shown) which affords the professional tiler the ability to tile a level tile-line in uneven aperture configurations and irregular substrate conditions.

Each column 20 is telescopically height adjustable and comprises an upright post 24 that terminates in a foot 22 at its base. A hollow tube 26 fits over the post 24 in the manner of a sleeve and is movable up and down relative to the post 26. A spring-loaded self-locking trigger 28 at the bottom end of the tube 26 engages the post 24 and can be operated to move the tube 26 up the post 24 incrementally, thereby increasing the overall length (height) of the column 20. By adjusting the height of the columns 20 the bar 10 may be positioned as needed to support tiles on the upper surface of a recess such as a window recess. The columns 20 can be adjusted so the bar 10 is level by reference to the built-in spirit level. A safety release catch allows for the column 20 to retract under positive pressure while securely holding the column 20 when not initiated. Optional column extensions 29 can be added to the tube 26 to extend the columns 20 for larger apertures.

Each connector piece 30 is formed from hollowed aluminum bar and provides a physical interface between the column 20, or column extension 29, and the bar 10. The connector piece 30 has an external thread at one end that mates with a matching thread in the top of the tube 26 or extension 29, if present. At its other (top) end, the connector piece 30 has a threaded bore to receive a tapered stainless steel alum-screw 40 which is inserted through a fabricated hole drilled in the bar 10 to secure the bar 10 to the column 20 via the connector piece 30.

The apparatus 100 is a hand operated tool provided as a kit with 4 main components that when fully assembled form a holistic solution. The kit is assembled, operated and then disassembled from its own unique storage and transit case (Figure 2) enabling its use and mobility to be fully maximized whilst ensuring a sterile environment whilst not in use.

As shown in Figure 2, the kit is provided with a choice of bar (“head”) 10 lengths and with optional column extensions 29 for maximum versatility. The assembled tile support apparatus 100 is shown in Figure 3. Figure 4 shows the tile support apparatus 100, with columns 20 extended to offer the bar 10 to the top sill of the window recess. The apparatus 100 can be assembled and used safely by one professional tiler, dependent on the build, strength and anthropometric range of the user. Alternatively, assembly, operation and disassembly can be carried out as a two-person operation.