Spacer and Associated Method for Laying Tile

Abstract

A spacer for laying tile, which is useful for example in establishing a desired spacing and alignment between at least two adjacent tiles and between the tiles and a working surface, is disclosed. A substantially planar base plate is provided which is sized to extend between the working surface and an interface of adjacent sides of at least two adjacent tiles to establish a space between the tiles and the working surface for receipt of a substrate layer therein. A plurality of fins extend from a first surface of the base plate. Each fin is sized and configured along the base plate to extend between and abut adjacent sides of at least two adjacent tiles to establish a space between the tiles for receipt of a mortar joint therebetween.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]1. Field of Invention[0004]The present general inventive concept relates to tiles, slabs, or the like (hereinafter “tiles”). More particularly, the present general inventive concept pertains to a spacer for aligning and leveling adjacent tiles to assist in laying the tiles onto floors, walls, countertops, or the like.[0005]2. Description of the Related Art[0006]The use of tiles to form decorative and functional tile surfaces on floors, walls, countertops, and the like (hereinafter “surfaces”) is known in the art. In typical tile installation, a substrate layer of adhesive, such as mortar, cement, epoxy, or other adhesive (hereinafter “substrate”) is applied to a working surface. Tiles are overlaid along the substrate layer, often in a spaced-apart configuration to define a mortar joint therebetween. The mortar ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]The present general inventive concept further provides a method of laying tile. In one embodiment of the method, a plurality of spacers are provided and arranged at locations along a working surface to establish a desired positioning and spacing of a plurality of tiles along the working surface to form a tile surface. The spacers are secured to the working surface at the arranged locations of the spacers. In an optional operation of the method invention, a desired separation distance between the working surface and each spacer is established to facilitate additional alignment and leveling of the tiles. A measu...

Problems solved by technology

Proper alignment of adjacent tiles along a working surface during installation is often a time-consuming and labor-intensive process, but is nonetheless important for a number of reasons.

For example, if one tile in an array of tiles forming a tile surface is misaligned in a direction along the working surface, the width of the mortar joints between the misaligned tile and adjacent tiles is often not uniform, the end result often being an unattractive and undesirable tile surface.

If one tile in an array of tiles forming a surface is misaligned in a direction normal to the working surface, the end result is often an unacceptably non-planar tile surface.

The operation of laying, aligning, and leveling tiles is often difficult due, in part, to uneven working surfaces underlying the tile, such as for example, bowed or sagging floor surfaces.

In...

Images