US4953341A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spacers for laying tile and method of use
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-08-14
•
Granted: 1990-09-04
•
Expires: 2009-08-14
Abstract
Abstract A single piece spacer element is disclosed for insertion between spaces between tiles for uniform spacing of the tiles. The spacer element comprising a plurality of legs extending radially from a common juncture, with the legs being formed with beveled edges which facilitate their removal from the adhesive material between the tiles once the adhesive has cured. The invention also comprises integrally formed cylindrical or U-shaped stems which extend from the surface of the spacer element and which aid in placement and removal thereof. The invention also comprises the method of using the spacer element to space and align tiles.
Inventors
- 👤 Bob Joos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:10
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04F; E04F15/00; E04F15/02; E01; E01C; E01C5/00; E01C5/005; E01C5/006; E04F21/00; E04F21/0092; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S33/00; Y10S33/20; Y10S52/00; Y10S52/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A method of laying tiles to maintain uniform spacing between rows and columns of the tiles, said method comprising spreading an adhesive material on a substrate to which said tiles are to be applied; placing said tiles in columns and rows on the substrate and in contact with said adhesive; placing spacer elements into said adhesive material between the edges of adjacent tiles as the tiles are laid, said spacer elements consisting of a plurality of legs extending radially from a common juncture, each of said legs having a top surface, bottom surface, and an end surface, each of said bottom surfaces lying entirely in a single plane, at least one of said legs of each spacer element having a beveled edge which extends partially above the level of the adhesive material when the spacer is positioned between the edges of adjacent tiles in contact with the adhesive; allowing the adhesive to set and firmly adhere the laid tiles and the spacer elements to the substrate; applying a tool to the beveled edge of said at least one leg of the spacer elements to lift the spacer away from said adhesive and said tiles to form substantially open channels between the adjacent tiles; and filling the channels between the tiles with a grout.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
213 words
A method of laying tiles to maintain uniform spacing between rows and columns of the tiles, said method comprising spreading an adhesive material on a substrate to which said tiles are to be applied; placing said tiles in columns and rows on the substrate and in contact with said adhesive; placing spacer elements into said adhesive material between the edges of adjacent tiles as the tiles are laid, said spacer elements consisting of a plurality of legs extending radially from a common juncture, each of said legs having a top surface, bottom surface, and an end surface, each of said bottom surfaces lying entirely in a single plane, at least one of said legs of each spacer element having a beveled edge which extends partially above the level of the adhesive material when the spacer is positioned between the edges of adjacent tiles in contact with the adhesive; allowing the adhesive to set and firmly adhere the laid tiles and the spacer elements to the substrate; applying a tool to the beveled edge of said at least one leg of the spacer elements to lift the spacer away from said adhesive and said tiles to form substantially open channels between the adjacent tiles; and filling the channels between the tiles with a grout.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method of laying tiles in accordance with claim 1, wherein the legs of one ore more respective spacer elements are occasionally deformed slightly as they are placed between adjacent tiles to accommodate inadvertent misalignment which may otherwise occur in the uniformly spaced rows and columns of tiles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of laying tiles in accordance with claim 1, wherein said spacer elements are formed with a stem extending from the surface thereof and the step of placing includes holding the spacer elements by the stem when placing them between adjacent tiles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of laying tiles in accordance with claim 3, further including the step of removing at least one of said legs from at least one of said spacer elements wherein before it is placed between adjacent tiles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
143 words
A single piece spacer element for insertion into spaces between tiles for uniform spacing of the tiles, said spacer element consisting of a plurality of legs extending radially from a common juncture, each of said legs having a top surface, bottom surface, and an end surface, each of said bottom surfaces lying entirely in a single plane, at least one of said legs of said spacer element including a beveled surface extending from its bottom surface in the direction of its top surface to its end surface, and at least one of said legs including a stem extending from said top surface thereof whereby, said spacer having been placed between a plurality of tiles in order to correctly position the tiles can thereafter be removed by applying a tool to said beveled surface to remove said spacer from its location between the tiles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
143 words
A single piece spacer element for insertion into spaces between tiles for uniform spacing of the tiles, said spacer element consisting of a plurality of legs extending radially from a common juncture, each of said legs having a top surface, bottom surface, and an end surface, each of said bottom surfaces lying entirely in a single plane, at least one of said legs of said spacer element including a beveled surface extending from its bottom surface in the direction of its top surface to its end surface, and at least one of said legs including a stem extending from said top surface thereof whereby, said spacer having been placed between a plurality of tiles in order to correctly position the tiles can thereafter be removed by applying a tool to said beveled surface to remove said spacer from its location between the tiles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A spacer element in accordance with claim 5, wherein said plurality of legs consists of four legs extending in a cross shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
209 words
A spacer element in accordance with claim 5, wherein said spacer is made of a polymeric material which can be deformed to a limited degree to accommodate misalignment of tiles. placing said tiles in columns and rows on the substrate and in contact with said adhesive; placing spacer elements into said adhesive material between the edges of adjacent tiles as the tiles are laid, said spacer elements consisting of a plurality of legs extending radially from a common juncture, each of said legs having a top surface, bottom surface, and an end surface, each of said bottom surfaces lying entirely in a single plane, at least one of said legs of each spacer element having a beveled edge which extends partially above the level of the adhesive material when the spacer is positioned between the edges of adjacent tiles in contact with the adhesive; allowing the adhesive to set and firmly adhere the laid tiles and the spacer elements to the substrate; applying a tool to the beveled edge of said at least one leg of the spacer elements to lift the spacer away from said adhesive and said tiles to form substantially open channels between the adjacent tiles; and filling the channels between the tiles with a grout.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A spacer element in accordance with claim 5, wherein the end surface of each of said legs is arcuate in shape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A spacer element in accordance with claim 5, wherein said stem forms an opening therethrough, whereby said spacer having been placed between a plurality of tiles to ensure proper positioning thereof, can then be removed from its position between the tiles by applying a tool to said opening formed in said stem.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB283895A
Cited
US1836964A
Cited
US2031684A
Cited
US2930135A
Cited
US2869356A
Cited
US3295281A
Cited
US3411257A
Cited
GB1228579A
Cited
US4223792A
Cited
US4334397A
Cited
US4503654A
Cited
US4761926A
Cited
US4774793A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-09-03 | 1994-03-05 | 1994-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-03 | 1998-03-05 | 1998-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-03 | 2002-03-05 | 2002-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |