Universal tray for laying tiles or paving stones

Abstract

Title: A tray intended for use in laying tiles, comprising a back wall and a side wall defining a lateral envelope of the tray extending all around the back wall, so as to define an interior space open at the top, is characterized in that an intermediate wall, in particular vertical, is mounted in the interior space so as to divide it into two interior sub-spaces, each open at the top, at least one spacer, preferably a plurality of spacers being received in one of the two sub-spaces and at least one wedge, preferably a plurality of wedges being received in the other of the two sub-spaces. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Universal tray for laying tiles or floor tiles

[0001] The present invention relates to a tray intended to be used for laying tiles or floor tiles.

[0002] Conventionally, to lay tiles, a tiler has a rinsing tank which includes a grid mounted horizontally in the tank, at a distance from the bottom of the tank, the grid being immersed in a washing liquid, in particular water received in the tank, the tiler being able to clean a sponge previously used to collect or recover the excess joint placed between two adjacent tiles during the jointing operation, the sponge being able in particular to be pressed against the grid. Conventionally, the tiler wipes the joint on the floor with the sponge, presses the sponge on the grid immersed in the cleaning liquid, in particular water, then wrings the sponge on rotatably mounted rollers, conventionally positioned in the upper part of the tank.

[0003] The preliminary operation of jointing the tiles does not require the use of this rinsing tank. To position two adjacent or contiguous tiles at exactly the same height level, it is known to use a crosspiece and wedge system or a crosspiece and dial system. A crosspiece of a crosspiece and wedge system consists of a horizontal base and a separating plate pierced with a window, the separating plate extending perpendicular to the base, substantially from the middle of the latter. The crosspiece is positioned between two tiles, so that its base is overlapped by the two tiles on either side of the separating plate, the latter projecting beyond the upper surface of the tiles so that its window can be crossed by a wedge pushed through it along the upper surface of the two tiles.A wedge in the shape of a beveled corner is inserted into the part of the window projecting above the panes and pressed ever harder into the window, thereby exerting ever greater pressure on the panes, thereby leveling them. A crosspiece in a crosspiece and dial system consists of a horizontal base and a separating plate from the upper edge of which a threaded rod projects, the separating plate extending perpendicular to the base, substantially from the middle of the latter. The crosspiece is positioned between two panes so that its base is overlapped by the two panes on either side of the separating plate, the latter projecting beyond the upper surface of the panes so that a dial in the shape of a substantially cone ending at its top in a . threaded bore can cover the crosspiece, the crosspiece rod being received in the bore and the lower edge of the cone bearing against the tiles to be leveled. The bore is then screwed more and more tightly into the threaded rod, thus exerting more and more pressure on the tiles, thus leveling them.

[0004] For laying tiles, the tiler must therefore have at hand a container containing spacers, a container containing wedges or dials, a container containing tools, in particular pliers for pressing the wedge into the spacer or screwing the dial into the threaded rod, as well as a hammer and / or a trowel and / or a spatula, and a rinsing tank.

[0005] We would like to simplify the work of the tiler, and in particular to reduce the quantity of material that he must carry with him during a tiling or tile laying operation, in particular from the moment when the tiles are laid on the floor until the moment when the grouting is washed.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, a tray intended to be used for laying tiles or tiles, comprising a bottom wall and a side wall defining a lateral envelope of the tray extending all around the bottom wall, so as to define an interior space open on top, is characterized in that an intermediate wall, in particular a vertical wall, is mounted in the interior space so as to separate it into two interior sub-spaces each open on top, at least one crosspiece, preferably a plurality of crosspieces being received in a first of the two sub-spaces and at least one shim or dial, preferably a plurality of shims or dials being received in the other of the two sub-spaces.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the intermediate wall is mounted removably relative to the tray.

[0008] Preferably, means are provided for holding the removable intermediate wall in a first position, in particular vertically, in which it separates the interior space into two sub-spaces open on top, and means for holding the removable intermediate wall in a second position, in particular substantially horizontally, in which it is at a distance from the bottom wall of the tank.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the removable intermediate wall is in the form of a grid, thus allowing the tray to be used as a rinsing tray for pressing the sponge, for cleaning excess grout, in particular after having used the same tray to transport spacers and shims or dials along the surface to be tiled for leveling the tiles.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, means are provided for fixing, in particular in a removable manner, rotating rollers to the upper edge of the tray.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, means are provided for holding tools suspended from the tray, in particular a mallet and / or a trowel and / or a glue comb and / or pliers.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, these holding means consist of a wire sufficiently rigid to be self-supporting and sufficiently flexible to be able to be reversibly deformed, for example a metal or plastic wire, fixed so as to extend substantially along at least a part of the upper edge of the side wall of the container, preferably at a small distance outside the latter, the distance being small in the sense that it allows the passage between the wire and the container of a part of the held tool and does not allow the passage of another part of the held tool, thus ensuring the holding by suspension of the tool between the wire and the side wall of the container.

[0013] Preferably, the wire is mounted in the manner of a handle, being fixed at two points at a distance from each other on the outer surface of the side wall of the tank, in particular in two positions opposite each other, and a stop coming from the wire bears against the upper edge of the side wall of the tank, thus preventing the wire from passing below this upper edge and thus allowing the wire to be kept at a distance from the side wall of the tank.

[0014] In particular, the stop coming from the wire is a part of the wire bent twice in a U shape, the concavity of which is turned towards the outside of the tank.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the container is mounted on casters, in particular on at least two casters.

[0016] According to a favorable embodiment, the tray has two casters, notably rear ones, and two skates on the opposite side.

[0017] According to another favorable embodiment, the container has four casters, in particular two monodirectional casters at the rear and two multidirectional casters at the front.

[0018] By way of example, a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0019] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a tray according to the invention;

[0020] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the tray of [Fig.l] used in its rinse tray position;

[0021] [Fig. 3] is a perspective view of another embodiment of a tray according to the invention;

[0022] [Fig.4] is a view substantially identical to [Fig.2] of the tray of [Fig.3];

[0023] [Fig.5] represents in succession the six stages carried out by the tiler with the spacers, wedges and wedge pliers for laying tiles for the level- velment;

[0024] [Fig.6] shows the four stages of wiping the joint, the last stage during from which the tray according to the invention is used; and

[0025] [Fig.7] represents a system of crosspieces and dials.

[0026] In [Fig.l], a tray 1 of substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape comprises a bottom wall 2, two front and rear walls 3, 4 and two left and right side walls 5, 6, the front, rear, left and right walls forming a lateral envelope extending all around the bottom wall 2, so as to define with it a receiving space open on top. A rectangular plate 7 in the form of a grid is received in a removable manner in the interior space by being held vertically therein, substantially in the middle, so as to define two interior sub-spaces each open on top, on either side of itself.

[0027] To hold the plate 7, two longitudinal grooves 8 extending vertically are formed in the inner surface of the two left and right side walls 5 and 6, and their shape is substantially complementary to that of the plate 7. However, only one groove could be provided, which, if sufficiently deep, would also allow the grid to be held vertically. The arrangement is such that, in the vertical position, the plate 7 is received in the two grooves 8 to thus ensure that the plate 7 is held vertically in the form of a grid.

[0028] Similarly, a shoulder 9 extends peripherally to the inner surface of the side casing of the tank over a major part of this surface, in particular over more than half of the peripheral extent of each of the two left and right side walls and over the entire peripheral extension of the front wall, the dimensions respectively of the shoulder 9 and of the plate 7 being such that the plate 7 abuts against the shoulder 9 to be thus maintained horizontally in a position at a distance from the bottom wall 2, allowing the use of the tank as a rinsing tank for cleaning excess jointing. In this position, the grid covers approximately 70% of the surface of the bottom wall 2.

[0029] A handle 10 is pivotally mounted on both sides 3 and 4, front and rear, of the container, and can pivot freely to come above the container for its transport and in particular its lifting, or below, as shown in [Fig.l], when it is not necessary to transport the container, in particular when it is not necessary to lift it.

[0030] On the other hand, a metal wire 11 (but which could be made of another material as long as it is sufficiently rigid to hold by itself, but sufficiently flexible to be deformed reversibly, for example made of plastic) is also pivotally mounted on either side of the two front and rear sides 3 and 4 of the tank. The wire 11 extends along the periphery of the upper edge of the side casing of the tank and has a part 12 curved twice in a U, which abuts against the upper edge of the tray to prevent the wire 11 from passing below this upper edge.

[0031] When this U-shaped curved portion 12 of the wire 11 thus abuts against the upper peripheral edge of the container, the wire 11 is held substantially at the same level as the upper edge, at a small distance from it, so that it is possible to insert a part of a tool such as a mallet handle, while the other part of the tool, for example the anvil, cannot pass between the container and the wire, which thus makes it possible to keep it suspended from the container, thus allowing the transport of the tool in question. This function can be seen in particular in the embodiment shown in [Fig.3].

[0032] On the other hand, when the grid is positioned in the horizontal position, as shown in [Fig.2], rollers 15 can be added to the upper part of the tank to allow the joint cleaning sponge to be wrung out. This roller option is described both in the embodiment of [Fig.2] and that of [Fig.4].

[0033] In Figures 1 and 2, the embodiment shown comprises two unidirectional wheels 16 at the rear and two skates 17 at the front. In the embodiments of Figures 3 and 4, two unidirectional wheels 16 are provided at the rear and two multidirectional wheels 18 at the front.

[0034] It would also be possible to provide only single-directional wheels or only multi-directional wheels. However, both embodiments shown are advantageous in that they provide a good compromise between the need to compress the sponge, and therefore to have a tray available that remains stable, and the need to transport the tray as one moves along the floor to be tiled.

[0035] In [Fig.5], different stages of laying tiles are shown, in particular the stage which consists of positioning spacers for a spacer and wedge system.

[0036] A crosspiece 100 comprises a horizontal base 101 from which extends vertically a vertical separation plate 102 pierced with at least one central window 103, having a shape allowing it to pass through to a certain point a wedge 105 in the form of a beveled corner.

[0037] Conventionally, the shim is pressed into the window 103 by a clamp 106, one of the jaws of which bears against one side of the vertical plate 102 and the other jaw of which bears against a side of the shim opposite the vertical plate 102, to thus press the shim more and more against the two contiguous tiles and between which the crosspiece has been arranged with its vertical plate which separates the two tiles by bearing against each of them, to thus ensure that they are at the same level.

[0038] In [Fig.7], a crosspiece-dial pair of a crosspiece and dial system is shown.

[0039] A crosspiece 200 has a horizontal base (not visible in the figure because hidden by the overlapping tiles) from which extends vertically a vertical plate 202 separating the upper edge from which projects vertically a central threaded rod 203. A conical-shaped dial 205 has at its top a bore 206 which is threaded onto the threaded rod 203, the cone defining within it an interior space allowing the plate 202 to be covered. The threaded bore is then screwed as much as possible around the rod to thus press the lower edge of the cone against the tiles to be leveled.

[0040] Once the tiles are firmly pressed downwards, the vertical plate of the crosspiece is simply broken, in particular at a thinned lower part thereof, as seen in [Fig.5]. In [Fig.6], different stages of use of the bucket according to the invention are shown, in its rinsing tank configuration.

Claims

Claims

1. Tray (1) intended to be used for laying tiles or tiles, comprising a bottom wall (2) and a side wall defining a lateral envelope of the tray extending all around the bottom wall, so as to define an interior space open on top, is characterized in that an intermediate wall (7), in particular vertical, is mounted in the interior space so as to separate it into two interior sub-spaces each open on top, at least one crosspiece, preferably a plurality of crosspieces being received in a first of the two sub-spaces and at least one shim or dial, preferably a plurality of shims or dials being received in the other of the two sub-spaces.

2. Container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate wall (7) is mounted removably relative to the container.

3. Container (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that means are provided for holding the removable intermediate wall in a first position, in particular vertically, in which it separates the interior space into two sub-spaces open on the top, and means for holding the removable intermediate wall in a second position, in particular substantially horizontally, at a distance from the bottom wall (2) of the container.

4. Tray (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the removable intermediate wall (7) is in the form of a grid, thus allowing the tray to be used as a rinsing tray for squeezing a sponge, for cleaning excess grout, in particular after having used the same tray to transport spacers and wedges or dials for leveling the tiles along the surface to be tiled.

5. Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means are provided for fixing, in particular removably, rotating rollers (15) to the upper edge of the container.

6. Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means are provided for holding tools suspended from the container, in particular a mallet and / or a trowel and / or a glue comb and / or pliers.

7. Tray (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the holding means for keeping tools suspended from the tray are made up of a wire (11) sufficiently rigid to be self-supporting and sufficiently flexible so as to be able to be reversibly deformed, for example a metal or plastic wire, fixed so as to extend substantially along at least a part of the upper edge of the side wall of the tank, preferably at a small distance outside it, the distance being small in the sense that it allows the passage between the wire and the tank of a part of the tool held and does not allow the passage of another part of the tool held, thus ensuring the holding by suspension of the tool between the wire and the side wall of the tank.

8. Container (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the wire (11) is mounted in the manner of a handle, being fixed at two points at a distance from each other on the external surface of the side wall of the container, in particular in two positions opposite each other, and a stop coming from the wire bears against the upper edge of the side wall of the container, thus preventing the wire from passing below this upper edge and thus allowing the wire to be kept at a distance from the side wall of the container.

9. Container (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the stop coming from the wire is a part (12) of the wire bent twice in a U shape, the concavity of which is turned towards the outside of the container.

10. Container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the container comprises two rollers (16), in particular rear rollers, and two skates (17) on the opposite side.

11. Container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the container comprises four casters, in particular two unidirectional casters (16) at the rear and two multidirectional casters (18) at the front.

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