Tile for building material

Abstract

Tile 2 for holding a wet mix building material like mortar, stucco, plaster or concrete, and comprising side walls 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d and top 4 and lowermost 6 surfaces, where a grip region 20a, 20b, 20c,

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a means for holding a wet mix material. The invention relates particularly to a tile for holding a wet mix material, and to a modular tile system. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Building materials, such as mortar, stucco, plaster or concrete, are often stored as a dry mix of components. Before use, the dry mix is combined with water to form a wet mix. Once a wet mix material has been prepared, the material will begin to cure after a set time period, therefore a wet mix is often prepared onsite, for example at a building site, immediately before use. Furthermore, dry mixes are easier to transport than wet mixes. A prepared batch of wet mix building material will usually be heavy, therefore moving a prepared wet mix batch within a building site can be problematic. A known product for holding a wet mix of building material comprises an inflexible board, with a handle to allow dragging of the board to a different location. However, the board only holds a set amount of wet mix material, and is difficult to move manually when full. The present invention aims to provide an improved means for holding a wet mix of building material. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a tile for holding a building material, the tile comprising a plurality of side walls, a top surface, and a lowermost surface, wherein a grip region comprising a void area, is provided in two of the plurality of side edges. The present invention provides a wet mix holding means which can be more easily lifted or moved, by virtue of having a grip region on at least two sides. A user can apply a wet mix building material to the top surface of the tile, and lift and move the tile as required, using the two grip regions, thereby enhancing the stability of the tile during moving, ensuring that the wet mix remains in place on the tile. The plurality of side walls may comprise four side walls, and the tile may have a square profile. A grip region may be provided in each of the four side walls. The user may therefore select which grip regions to use when lifting or moving the tile. Each grip region may be provided centrally along a length of a respective side wall. The central location of the grip regions along each length of the side walls acts to further enhance the stability of the tile when it is being used to carry wet mix building material. Each grip means may comprises a cut out in the respective side wall, and the void area may be bounded by a back surface, two side surfaces, and a contoured surface. The contoured surface may comprise a plurality of finger recesses. The finger recesses act to aid a user to locate their hands into the grip regions, and to spread the weight of the tile across the user's fingers, thereby to increase the user's comfort in carrying the tile, and reduce the chance of the user's hands slipping within grip region whilst carrying the tile. The top surface of the tile may be concave. The concave form of the top surface acts to maintain a wet mix material in the top surface, and decrease the likelihood of any wet mix falling from the tile if it is tilted from a horizontal orientation which being carried by a user. A plurality of ribs and or beams may extend away from an underneath surface of the tile, and distal edges of the ribs and or beams, and distal edges of the side walls, may together form the lowermost surface. The ribs and beams enhance the strength and rigidity of the tile, whilst minimising the overall weight of the tile. A length of each of the sides may be equal, such that the tile has an overall square shape. The tile may formed of a plastic material, such as an ABS plastic. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a modular system comprising a plurality of tiles according to the first aspect of the invention, and at least a first connector, wherein the plurality of tiles comprises at least a first tile and a second tile, and wherein the connector is installable into a first grip region of the first tile and first grip region of the second tile, thereby to hold the first tile and the second tile in an adjacent side-by-side configuration. The system of the present invention enabled two or more tiles can be connected together using connectors, thereby providing a increased surface area, comprising the area of the top surfaces of all the tiles connected within the system. The present invention thereby provides a modular system, which can be expanded as required. For example, a required number of tiles can be connected together to accommodate a larger volume of wet mix than could be accommodated by a single tile. Alternatively or additionally, the tiles can be used to provide protection to a floor or other surface during building works, indoors or outside. Similarly, for such a use, multiple tiles can be combined together until the required area of coverage is achieved. The modular system of the present invention thereby provides an optimum area of coverage according to requirements, for example required area of coverage, or required volume of wet mix materials. In the modular system of the present invention, each connector may comprise: a first connector section which is insertable into the void area of the first grip region of the first tile; and a second connector section, which is insertable into the void area of the first grip region of the second tile. Each connector section may comprise a contoured surface which corresponds to a contoured surface of a grip region. The contoured surface of each grip region may comprise a plurality of finger recesses, and the contoured surface of each connector section comprises a plurality of curved protrusions, the number and form of which correspond to the number and form of the plurality of finger recesses. The secure location of a connector within a grip region can be enhanced by co-operation between the two contoured surfaces. The connector may be a push fit into the void areas of the first and second tiles. The connector, when installed, may lie flush with a lowermost surface of the first tile and a lowermost surface of the second tile. Therefore the connector does not protrude below the tiles, and therefore when connected tiles are placed on a surface, the connector does not prevent the tiles from lying flat on the surface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is perspective bottom view of a tile in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the tile of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the tile of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a bottom view of the tile of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the tile of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a perspective bottom view of a connector in accordance with the present invention; Figure 7 is an end view of the connector of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a top view of the connector of Figure 6; Figure 9 is bottom view of the connector of Figure 6; Figure 10 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the connector along the line X-X indicated in Figure 6; Figure 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the connector along the line XI-XI indicated in Figure 6; Figure 12 is a perspective bottom view of part of a modular tile system in accordance with the present invention; Figure 13 is a perspective bottom view of part of the modular tile system of Figure 12; Figure 14 is a top view of part of the modular system of Figure 12; and Figure 15 is a side view of part of the modular system of Figure 12. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figures 1 to 5 show a tile 2 in accordance with the present invention. The tile 2 comprises a top surface 4 and an underneath surface 6, and four side walls 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d. The four side walls 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d are of an equal length L, such that the tile has a square profile. A plurality of beams or ribs 10 protrude away from the underneath surface 6 of the tile 2. The ribs / beams 10 enhance the rigidity and strength of the tile 2, whilst minimising the weight of the tile 2. Distal edges of the ribs / beams 10, and distal edges of the side walls 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, together form a lowermost surface 12 of tile 2, which forms a support surface on which the tile 2 rests when it is placed in an upright configuration on a flat surface. The top surface 4 is concave, i.e. the top surface 4 curves downwardly (when the tile is in an upright configuration) towards the centre of the tile 2. The underneath surface 6 of the tile 2 is therefore convex. The concaveness of the top surface 4, and the convexness of the underneath surface 6, is visible most clearly in the cross-sectional view of Figure 5. A grip region 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d is provided on each side of the tile 2. Each grip region 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d is provided centrally along the length L of a respective side wall 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, i.e. the grip region 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d extends an equal amount either side of a midpoint of the length L of the respective side wall 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d. Each grip region 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d comprises a cut-out region through the respective side wall 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, providing an opening into a void area. The void area is bounded by a contoured surface 24, two side surfaces 26, and a back surface 28. The void area of each grip region 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d is open towards the underneath surface 6 of the tile 2, and at the opening provided in the side wall 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, i.e. when the tile 2 is in an upright orientation, the void area is open at a side wall of the tile 2 and from underneath the tile 2. The side surfaces 26 of each grip region 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d are slightly angled, i.e. they splay slightly outwardly as they extend from the top surface 6 to the lowermost surface 12. Each grip region 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d has a defined width Wg, a defined length Lg, and a defined maximum depth Dg, i.e. a distance between the lowermost surface 12 of the tile 2 and the bottom of a finger recess 22. In use, wet mix building material can be placed onto the top surface 6 of the tile, ready for use in a building application. The concaveness of the top surface 6 helps to maintain the wet mix on the tile 2, and towards the centre of the tile. When lifting or moving of the tile 2 is required, the grip regions 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d provide holding / moving / lifting points for a user. The user can insert fingers into the void area of the grip region 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d via the opening in each side wall 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d. The contoured surface 24 of the grip region 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d comprises a plurality of finger recesses 22 for accommodating the user's fingers. The user can insert fingers into two of the grip regions 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d. Heavier or more awkward loads can be moved or lifted by two or more users using the grip regions 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d. Figures 6 to 11 show a connector 60 in accordance with the present invention. The connector 60 comprises a first connector section 62, and an identical second connector section 64. The first section 62 and the second section 64 are joined along a longitudinal centreline CC of the connector 60. Each connector section 62, 64 comprises a first end wall 72, a second end wall 74, and a first side wall 76, remote from the longitudinal centre line CC of the connector 60. A second wall is provided for each connector side 62, 64 by a common central wall 78 which extends along the longitudinal centre line CC of the connector 60. Each connector section 62, 64 further comprises a contoured surface 70, the form of which corresponds to the contoured surface 24 of a grip region 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of a tile 2. Specifically, the contoured surface 70 of each connector section 62, 64 comprises a plurality of curved protrusions 66, the number and form of which correspond to the number and form of finger recesses 22 provided on a grip region 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of a tile 2. A bottom surface 80 of the connector is formed by edges of the first side walls 76 and the end walls 72, 74 proximate to the curved surface 70. A top surface 82 of the each connector section 62, 64 is defined by a plurality of sections. The top surface 82 of each connector section 62, 64, slopes downwardly as it extends away from the centre line, at an angle 01 (Figure 7). The side walls 76 slope slightly inwardly as they extend from the bottom surface 80 to the top surface 82, at an angle 02. Each connector section 62, 64 has a width Wc, i.e. a distance between an external surface of the first side wall 76, and the longitudinal centre line CC. The width Wc of each connector section 62, 64, is slightly less than the width Wg of a grip region 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of a tile 2. Each connector section 62, 64 has a maximum length Lc, i.e. a maximum distance between an external surface of the first end wall 72 and an external surface of the second end wall 74. The maximum length Lc of each connector section 62, 64, is slightly less than the length Lg of each grip region 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d. For each connector section 62, 64 a distance De is defined between the bottom surface 80 of a connector 60 to a tip / apex of a protrusion 66. The maximum d is slightly less than the maximum width Dg of a grip region 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of a tile 2. A connector 60 can be used to connect two tiles 2 together, and a plurality of tiles and one or more connectors can form a modular system. An example of a modular system according the present invention, as shown in Figures 12 to 15, comprises a connector 60, a first tile 2A, and a second tile 2B. The first tile 2A is placed adjacent to the second tile 2B, such a side wall 8a' of the first tile 2A is aligned with a side wall 8a" the second tile 2B. As the grip regions are each provided centrally along the length L of a side wall, when the side wall 8a of the first tile 2A is aligned with a side wall 8a' of the second tile 2B, one grip region 20a' of the first tile 2A is therefore also aligned with one grip region 20a" of the second tile 2B. The two grip regions 20a, 20a, therefore together form a double void area. The connector 60 is then installed into the double void area provided by the two aligned grip sections 20a', 20a". The connector 60 is installed such that the first section 62 of the connector 60 is located into the grip region 20a' of the first tile 2A, and the second section 64 of the connector 60 is located into the grip region 20a" of the second tile 2B. The connector 60 is shaped and dimensioned so as fit into the two adjacent grip regions 20a', 20a". For example, as described above, the maximum width Wc of each connector section 62, 64 is slightly less than the width Wg of a grip region 20a (and therefore the total width of the connector 60, i.e. 2 x Wc, is slightly less than the width of the two aligned grip regions 20a', 20a"). Also, the length Lc of each connector section 62, 64 is slightly less than the length Lg of each grip region 20a', 20a". Therefore the connector 60 is a push fit into the void provided by the two grip regions 20a', 20a", (i.e. the first section 62 of the connector 60 is a push fit into the grip region 20a' of the first tile 2A, and the second section 64 of the connector 60 is a push fit into the grip region 20a" of the second tile 2B). Furthermore, the slope 02 of the side walls 76 of the connector section 62, 64 matches the slight angling of the side surfaces 26 of the grip regions 20a', 20a". The slope 02 of the top surface 82 of each connector section 62, 64 is also selected so as to correspond to the convexness of the underneath surface 6 of the tile 2. Therefore when the connector 60 has been installed, the top surface 82 of each connector section fits exactly against the underside surface 6 of tile 2. Furthermore, the contoured surface 70 of each connector section 62, 64 corresponds to the contoured surface of a respective grip section 20a, and as the maximum depth De of each connector section 62, 64, is slightly less that the maximum depth Dg of each grip region 20a' 20a", when the connector 60 is fully installed into the grip regions 20a', 20a", the connector 60 lies flush with the lowermost surface 12 of the tile 2. Therefore when the connected tiles 2A, 2B are placed on a surface, the connector 60 does not protrude and therefore does not prevent the tiles 2A, 2B from lying flat on the surface. Once the tiles 2A, 2B have been connected together, the connector 60 maintains the two tiles 2A, 2B in a side-by-side configuration. Specifically, the connector 60 maintains the side edges 8a', 8a" of each tile adjacent to one another, with no gap therebetween. The tiles 2 and connectors are preferably formed of an ABS plastic. Each side wall 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d could for example have a length of 600mm. Further connectors 60 can be used, to connect together further tiles 2. An assembly of connected tiles provides a greater surface area (i.e. combined surface area of all top surfaces of the tiles in the assembly), for holding a larger volume of wet mix building material. Furthermore, an assembly of multiple connected tiles can be used to provide a larger surface area for mixing dry mix with water to prepare a wet mix onsite. An assembly of multiple connected tiles can also be used to cover / protect an area such as a floor, on a building site or other environment, indoors or outside. An assembly of connected tiles could, for example be used to provide impact resistance for a floor or surface. An assembly of connected tiles will reliably remain in place, however can be moved easily when required. A connector 60 can be installed to connect two tiles 2 by turning the tiles 2 over such that the underneath surfaces 6 are facing upwards, then inserting the connector into the grip regions. Alternatively, the tiles 2 could be maintained in an upright orientation with their top surfaces 4', 4" facing upwards, and placed on top of a connector 60; this method may be preferable when connecting a large number of tiles. Alternatives In the present embodiment, a grip region is provided on each side of the tile, however in alternative embodiments, a grip region could be provided on two or three side walls. Tiles to be connected together would be arranged accordingly to ensure a grip region of one tile was adjacent to the grip region of another tile. In the present embodiment, each side wall is provided a single grip region, located centrally with respect to the length of the side wall. However in alternative embodiments, more than one grip region could be provided a side of the tile. For example, a first grip region could be provided a set distance from a corner / junction between two side edges, and a second grip region could be provide on the same side edge at an equal distance from the opposite side of the side wall / corner. Such a configuration would ensure that pairs of grip regions aligned with one another when one tile was placed next to another tile for connection, and two connectors would be used to connect the tiles. In the present embodiment the side walls are of equal length and the tile forms a square. However in other embodiments the tile could form an alternative shape such as a rectangle or an alternatively another tessellating shape, such that a plurality of tiles could fit together with no gap between adjacent tiles. A grip region could be provided on two or more side walls. In the present invention, each connector section is substantially hollow, however in alternative embodiments, the connector could comprise an alternative interior and could be solid. Figure References Tile 2 Top surface 4 Underneath surface 6 Four side walls 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d Beams / ribs 10 Lowermost / support surface 12 Grip region 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d Grip region plurality of finger recesses 22 Grip region contoured surface 24 Grip region side surfaces 26 Grip region back surface 28 Grip region length Lg Grip region width Wg Grip region depth Dg Connector 60 Connector first section 62 First section connection portion 63 Connector second section 64 Second section connection portion 65 Connector plurality of recesses 66 Connector centre line CC Connector contoured surface 70 Connector sections end walls 72, 74 Connector section common central wall 76 Connector section side walls 78 Connector bottom surface 80 Connector length Lc Connector width Wc Connector depth De

Claims

1. A tile for holding a building material, the tile comprising a plurality of side walls, a top surface, and a lowermost surface, wherein a grip region comprising a void area, is provided in two of the plurality of side edges.

2. A tile according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of side walls comprises four side walls and wherein the tile has a square profile.

3. A tile as claimed in claim 1 wherein a grip region is provided in each of the four side walls.

4. A tile as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein each grip region is provided centrally along a length of a respective side wall.

5. A tile as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each grip means comprises a cut out in the respective side wall, and the void area is bounded by a back surface, two side surfaces, and a contoured surface.

6. A tile as claimed in claim 5 wherein the contoured surface comprises a plurality of finger recesses.

7. A tile as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the top surface is concave.

8. A tile as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of ribs and or beams extend away from an underneath surface of the tile, and wherein distal edges of the ribs and or beams, and distal edges of the side walls, together form the lowermost surface.

9. A tile as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a length of each of the sides is equal.

10. A tile as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the tile is formed of an ABS plastic.

11. A modular system comprising a plurality of tiles according to claim 1, and at least a first connector;wherein the plurality of tiles comprises at least a first tile and a second tile, and wherein the connector is installable into a first grip region of the first tile and first grip region of the second tile, thereby to hold the first tile and the second tile in an adjacent side-by-side configuration.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the connector comprises:a first connector section which is insertable into the void area of the first grip region of the first tile; anda second connector section, which is insertable into the void area of the first grip region of the second tile.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12 wherein each connector section comprises a contoured surface which corresponds to a contoured surface of a grip region.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the contoured surface of each grip region comprises a plurality of finger recesses, and the contoured surface of each connector section comprises a plurality of curved protrusions, the number and form of which correspond to the number and form of the plurality of finger recesses.

15. A system as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the connector is a push fit into the void areas of the first and second tiles.

16. A system as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the connector, when installed, lies flush with a lowermost surface of the first tile and a lowermost surface of the second tile.s

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