Tile mounting system

Claim 1

aperture..]..Iadd.2. In combination with a plurality of rectilinear tiles of predetermined dimensions for use in the tiling of a surface, at least a pair of tiling matrices each matrix having an apertured portion defining apertures which consitute a major portion of the area of the matrix and are to receive tiles to be adhered to the surface, characterized in that the apertured portion is a two-dimensional framework formed of a flexible but substantially inextensible synthetic plastic material and comprising a peripheral frame and horizontal and vertical frame members intersecting at right angles to each other and defining apertures therebetween, the framework defining a central zone containing at least one central aperture of a rectilinear form and at least one lateral aperture having a rectilinear form which substantially corresponds to the size and shape of half a said central aperture and which flank central zone outer edge-located edges of the central aperture, and each corner of the central zone substantially coinciding with one corner of a corresponding corner aperture within the framework and having a rectilinear form which substantially corresponds to the size and shape of one quarter of a said central aperture, the frame members making up the apertured portion carrying thereon a pattern of projections at frame member intersecting positions whose shapes and positions are such that tiles can either fit between projections to lie entirely within the matrix or tiles can fit between projections and bridge adjacent matrices, with the frame members being so narrow that between edges thereof and the projections a narrow band of the frame member exists acting as a ledge for supporting an edge region of a tile while allowing substantially the entire portion of the tile within such edge regions thereof to be unsupported by the matrix, for the tiles to be adhesively secured directly to said surface within the respective aperture or apertures therein while being spaced apart from one another by said projections to facilitate uniform grouting between the tiles, projection and recess means respectively being provided along frame members defining the peripheral frame of the matrix area to assist in interlocking the matrix relative to an adjacent matrix against displacement therebetween in any one direction during the installation of the matrix on a surface that is to be tiled and laying the tiles thereon, said combination characterized in that said tiles have an area which is an even integer multiple of said central aperture and the projections on each matrix are initially separate from the apertured portions, said portions and said projections being provided with cooperating means that will enable the projections to be attached to the portions in positions that are appropriate to the size of the particular tiles that are to cooperate with each matrix. .Iaddend..Iadd.3. A tiling system which comprises the provision of a first matrix for use in tiling, the first matrix defining an apertured portion for adhesive attachment to a surface to be tiled, the apertures constituting a major portion of the area of the first matrix and being intended to receive tiles to be adhered to a surface, characterized in that the apertured portion is a two dimensional framework formed of a flexible but substantially inextensible synthetic plastic material and comprising a peripheral frame and horizontal and vertical frame members intersecting at right angles to each other and defining apertures therebetween, the apertured portion being provided with a pattern of projections at frame member intersecting positions, the sizes and positions of the projections enabling tiles to fit between the projections, the projections of the pattern being fixedly or detachably secured to the apertured portion, the configuration of the apertured portion being symmetrical, the frame having at least one central aperture, a plurality of lateral apertures of rectilinear form which corresponds to the size and shape of half a said central aperture and which flank central zone outer edge-located edges of the central aperture, and a plurality of corner apertures surrounding the central aperture, with the corner apertures each coinciding at one corner with one corner of said central aperture, the corner apertures being of rectilinear form which substantially corresponds to the size and shape of one quarter of a said central aperture, with the frame members being so narrow that, between the edges thereof and the projections, a narrow band of the frame member exists acting as a ledge for supporting an edge region of a tile while allowing substantially the entire portion of the tile within such edge regions to be unsupported by the matrix, a combined matrix being formed when the first matrix is attached and aligned along a common edge to a second matrix, the second matrix being identical to the first matrix, such that a lateral aperture of the first matrix combines with a lateral aperture of the second matrix along the common edge to form a central aperture, and a corner aperture of the first matrix combines with a corner aperture of the second matrix along the common edge to form a lateral aperture, whereby tiles may be adhesively secured to said surface within the respective aperture or apertures therein while being spaced apart from one another by said projection to facilitate uniform grouting between the tiles, projections and recess means respectively being provided along frame members defining the peripheral frame of the matrix area to assist in interlocking of the matrices against displacement therebetween in any one direction during the installation of the matrix on a surface that is to be tiled and laying of tiles thereon. .Iaddend.