Abstract: A synthetic plastics or other flexible but substantially inextensible tiling matrix 1 is provided defining an apertured portion 2 formed with openings 3, half-sized openings 5, and quarter-sized openings 4, one surface of the matrix portion 2 being provided with cruciform and rectilinear projections 9 between which tiles can be installed. The matrix 1 is secured to a wall or other surface that is to be tiled by use of an adhesive and the tiles are secured to that wall or other surface and to the matrix portion 2 by a conventional tiling adhesive following which grouting is installed between the regularly spaced apart tiles in a conventional manner. The projections 9 have a projecting extent that is less than the thickness of the tiles so that they will be concealed after grouting has been completed. Edges of each matrix portion 2 are provided with interlocking projections 6 and recesses 7 so that one matrix portion 2 can quickly and accurately be positioned in line relative to others.

Abstract: In order for a wall, ceiling and/or floor formation comprising a substratum which may or must be plastered and a surface layer and further a flat resistance heating element arranged between the surface layer and the substratum and composed of a polyester cover layer, a conductive intermediate layer provided with lead-ins and lead-outs, e.g.

Abstract: An improved prefabricated building panel for mounting on the exterior of a building including a plurality of spaced, parallel support members or studs preferably formed by metal channels. A five strand layer wire mesh formed by a plurality of interwoven wires arranged at right angles to each other is attached to the support members and spaced therefrom by a plurality of spacers. The wire mesh is encapsulated with cement to form a ferrocement panel and decorative facing tile are secured to an outer face of the ferrocement panel by a layer of grouting. The ferrocement panel provides the structural load bearing component for the prefabricated panel for supporting the facing tile and eliminates the need for a separate substrate which heretofore spanned the support members and provided the structural support. The invention also includes the method steps for forming such a prefabricated panel.

Abstract: A composite floor covering comprising a rubbery backing strip or layer in intimate contact with the floor, ceramic tiles placed over the backing layer and flexible grouting between the tiles.

Abstract: A storage tank for liquid bitumen including a steel shell having heat insulation adjacent to its interior surface. The insulation is glass foam. Preferably, the insulation is in the form of glass foam panels which are initially arranged with gaps between them. When the tank is filled for the first time, the liquid bitumen penetrates into the gaps and solidifies therein to permanently interconnect the glass foam panels. A glass foam insulating cover floats on the surface of the liquid bitumen, and a heating unit is located within the tank.

Abstract: A shower stall threshold structure has two opposed former sections formed of light weight plastic material and adapted to have mortar poured into the space therebetween. The sections are equipped with spacer members and connection bolts to hold the sections in proper spaced relationship until the mortar hardens. Openings through the former sections expose the mortar at the outer faces of the former sections so that tile placed on the sides of the threshold can be adhered to the mortar. One or both former sections may have tile supporting ledges projecting outwardly from their outer faces. A plastic sheet underlying the shower stall may have its edges turned upwardly within the threshold and held in place between the spacer members on the sections. Lines of weakness are provided in the former sections to permit portions of the sections to be broken off to reduce the height of the threshold.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for tiling bath enclosures, shower stalls, and the like, comprises providing a sheet of imperforate, substantially waterproof material with a dry, solvent-based film adhesive formed on the exterior side of the sheet. The interior side of the sheet is adhered to those substrate walls to be tiled, and the tile adhesive is applied over the film adhesive on the exterior side of the sheet. The tile adhesive includes a solvent which partially dissolves the film adhesive, and a cross-linking agent which securely bonds the adhesives to each other and the waterproof sheet. Ceramic tiles are pressed into the wet adhesive, and are fixedly anchored in place as the adhesive cures, such that the waterproof sheet forms a barrier between the tiles and the substrate walls which is substantially impervious to moisture.

Abstract: Thin, strong, composite masonry-plastic articles having an earthen body impregnated with an in situ polymerized plastic and a drying oil or semi-drying oil; a mastic for forming a stain resistant grout comprising about 70% to 80% sand and about 20% to 30% of a plastic binder; stain-resistant wall and floor structures comprising said composite articles and grout; and a method for installing such wall and floor structures are described.

Abstract: In a latex coating composition comprising a pigment, a polymeric binder and water, the improvement which comprises incorporating therein about 2 to 20% by total weight of binder of an oligomer of an unsaturated ester having a molecular weight of about 1,000 to 20,000, whereby the coating upon drying is adherent to a vitreous surface but is removable therefrom with alkali. The composition is especially suited for renewing the grout between ceramic tiles.

Abstract: A building wall panel (20) adapted for mounting on a building frame includes an exterior facing formed from a plurality of thin stone panels (22) of for instance granite or marble, backed and interconnected by a layer (28) of glass fiber-strengthened concrete underlying the panels and covering and engaging anchor clips (24) secured to the backs of the stone panels (22). The backing layer (28) is bonded to a metal support frame (30) by additional amounts of glass fiber-reinforced concrete (29) overlaying portions of anchor members (36) carried by the support frame and adjacent portions of the backing layer (28). A method of forming the building wall panel (20) involves placing granite or marble panels (20) face down in a form (48), mounting anchor clips (24) or pins (61) in the backs of the stone panels, and spraying a layer of slurry (55) formed from a mixture of concrete and chopped glass fiber strands, over both the panels (22) and the anchor clips (24 ) or pins (61).

Abstract: A building block for constructing a floor or wall has a plurality of tile blocks bonded to a single synthetic resin base. Pieces of acoustical insulating material are dispersed in the resinous base and a strip or sheet substantially impermeable to the resin is placed between the resin base and tile blocks bridging the interface between edges of adjacent tile blocks to regulate flow of the base material into interface between the tile blocks.

Abstract: A solventless, cross-linked adhesive bonding composition composed of a resin base portion comprised of an epoxy resinous material containing terminal epoxy groups and being essentially free from units derived from vegetable oils and aliphatic ethers, and a filled hardener portion containing a mixture of a modified polyamine and polyamido-amine.

Abstract: A slab or block for making a floor comprises a plurality of tiles placed side by side and bonded face to face to a plate of plastic material. Heat insulating shavings such as vulcanized elastomer or wood shavings are dispersed in the plastic matrix of the plate. A textile backing such as a woven textile scrim or net is bonded to the second face of the plate.

Abstract: Thin, strong, composite masonry-plastic articles having an earthen body impregnated with an in situ polymerized plastic and a drying oil or semi-drying oil; a mastic for forming a stain resistant grout comprising about 70% to 80% sand and about 20% to 30% of a plastic binder; stain-resistant wall and floor structures comprising said composite articles and grout; and a method for installing such wall and floor structures are described.

Abstract: A steel bridge deck surfaced with plastic tiles is disclosed in which the tiles are bonded to the deck by means of a bonding layer having a Shore 00 hardness of from 78 to 90 and comprising an elastomer compounded with a stiffening filler in an amount equal to at least half the weight of the elastomer. Low volatile liquid plasticizer is present in an amount to provide the stated hardness. The elastomer is preferably a mixture of acrylic elastomer and butyl elastomers, and the stiffening filler is a high abrasion furnace carbon black. The tiles are adhered to the layer with a solution coating comprising neoprene in admixture with a terpene-phenolic resin and the coating desirably includes a hydrophobic silica. The layer is adhered to the steel deck with a butyl-based solution coating containing a corrosion-resistant pigment in combination with zinc oxide.

Abstract: A system for installing and aligning the finished side of a floor, wall, ceiling or any flat surface formed from a plurality of panel sections secured to a support surface by an adhesive, to provide a uniform and even surface, regardless of the variation in thickness of the individual panels, comprises means for applying pressure on the finished side of at least two adjacent panels and means disposed between the adhesive and the rear surface of the panels to provide a pressure against the rear surface of the panel inversely proportional to the finished side pressure. The opposing pressures align the finished surfaces of adjacent panels to provide the uniform surface. The means for aligning the panels to form the uniform finished surface also provides a spacing system between adjacent panels and further holds the panels in position until the mastic, adhesive, etc., has hardened.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for tiling bath enclosures, shower stalls, and the like, comprises providing a sheet of imperforate, substantially waterproof material with a dry, solvent-based film adhesive formed on the exterior side of the sheet. The interior side of the sheet is adhered to those substrate walls to be tiled, and tile adhesive is applied over the film adhesive on the exterior side of the sheet. The tile adhesive includes a solvent which partially dissolves the film adhesive, and a crosslinking agent which securely bonds the adhesives to each other and the waterproof sheet. Ceramic tiles are pressed into the wet adhesive, and are fixedly anchored in place as the adhesive cures, such that the waterproof sheet forms a barrier between the tiles and the substrate walls which is substantially impervious to moisture.

Abstract: A laminated article comprising a plurality of abrasive resistant ceramic tiles secured to an elastomeric polyurethane cushioning support by means of a multitude of short thin fibers having major portions thereof embedded within an epoxy resin bonded to the tiles is fabricated by applying a thin layer of the resin in an uncured liquid phase to the tiles, applying a coating of the fibers to the liquid resin such that minor portions of the fibers in contact with the resin are wet thereby and the remaining major portions of the fibers extend from the resin layer, curing the resin to secure the fibers therein and to bond the resin to the tiles, applying a layer of a thermosetting polyurethane in an unpolymerized liquid phase to the fiber impregnated resin layer, and thereafter curing the polyurethane layer.

Abstract: An assembly of glazed ceramic tiles for the interior walls and ceilings each tile comprising a glazed body with glazed spacing lugs on all four sides of the tile at least two of the glazed lugs on two sides extending substantially the full length of the sides and two glazed lugs on the other two sides extending substantially the full length of the sides or two shorter glazed lugs symmetrically arranged thereon one of each of the shorter lugs being longer than the other, all the glazed lugs on all the sides when assembled engaging glazed lugs on adjacent sides.

Abstract: A large area wall element of lightweight sandwich design for prefabricated buildings has a weatherproof outer layer which is formed by facing panels which are fixed to a foamed plastic layer by means of an adhesive layer in which fiberglass matting is embedded, the foamed plastic layer being glued to the supporting structure of the wall element. This wall element can be fabricated completely at the factory and transported from there to the construction site. It offers good thermal insulation and good weatherproofing. Through selection of the facing panels, a wide variety of effects can be achieved. In particular, facing panels of stone or stoneware, including brick, are suitable. The impressing of a masonry wall can be achieved by means of bricks. However the facing panels can also be arranged in distinct areas defined by means of wooden elements arranged in the form of framework.

Abstract: Preformed modular element for forming floor and wall coverings in combination with tiles and the like. The assembled modular elements define an array of regularly shaped cavities, each adapted to receive at least one tile. The cavities are preferably of a lesser depth than the tile thickness, thus resulting in an array of grooves between adjacent tiles, corresponding to the modular elements that separate the tiles and are depressed of the top faces thereof; finishing strips being received in the grooves of such a thickness to be flush with the tile top faces.

Abstract: A means and method of wall construction utilizes plastic diamond mesh and permanently inset float strips imbedded in the setting bed for the ceramic tile.

Abstract: A pre-formed structure, such as a shower stall, having three walls, each wall is comprised of a plurality of sheets of multiple, conjoined tile, having opposite finished and unfinished faces; binding materials such as adhesive, heating duct tape applied to the unfinished surfaces to conjoin the edges of the sheets of tile, and such materials similarly being applied to conjoin adjacent longitudinal edges of the walls; horizontal support members, composed of flexible material extending about the walls to interengage the sheets of tile and support them in position; vertical, rigid reinforcing elements extended upon each wall to help impart rigidity to the completed structure; a floor, or pan, preferably dimensioned to interengage with and be connected to the bottom marginal edge portions of said walls, and an upper wall preferably dimensioned to engage with and be connected to the upper marginal edge portions of said three walls.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically constructing prefabricated wall sections of brick wall panels with a tile lining. A prefabricated brick wall panel has columns of mortar disposed in parallel strips thereon, a lining panel of unconnected tile members is assembled, proper spacing being introduced between each of the tile members, and the tile members are transferred in groups or en masse to a position over the wall panel. The lining panel members are then firmly pressed into engagement with the wall panel with mortar columns therealong, thereby forming a completed wall section. Preferred specific apparatus includes vacuum grippers, scissor-connected link spacing means, and flatbed cars movable on tracks to a position below automatic mortar applying means.

Abstract: A building construction for fabricating a veneer, facing wall on a building wall. The construction includes a flat panel of thin rigid material that is adapted to be secured to the building wall. The panel has a plurality of spaced parallel ridges which form flat-bottomed troughs therebetween. Veneer building blocks are held in the troughs by use of adhesive and these blocks may be spaced and staggered to provide the appearance of a conventional brick wall. Crosspieces are held in the troughs between adjoining ends of adjacent blocks. The ridges and crosspieces have exposed surfaces to provide the appearance of mortar between the veneer blocks.

Abstract: This invention concerns a process of manufacturing panels composed of units in, for example, ceramic assembled by a thermoplastic material.The interstitial spaces between the units are filled with granules of thermoplastic material. After heating to the highest possible temperature but just lower than the degradation temperature, the units are firmly joined to one another.Such panels can be used as decorative floor or wall-coverings.

Abstract: The combination of a sheet of individual tiles attached together being mounted to a fiber glass shell and the method of constructing same. A plurality of panels are attached by adhesive means to a fiber glass shell. Each panel includes a plurality of individual tiles having edge portions attached to the edge portions of adjacent tile. The panels and the fiber glass shell are produced at a location remote from the final construction site. The fiber glass shell, configured as a shower stall or as a bathtub enclosure, is attached to a plurality of upright wooden studs. Tabs are provided on the fiber glass shell to receive conventional fastening devices extending into the studs. The fiber glass shell is provided with a rough, inwardly facing surface which adhesively receives the plurality of panels. In one embodiment, the shell includes a thickened top rib positioned flush with the panels whereas another embodiment includes a trim strip blending the panels into the shell.