TILE
The invention relates to a tile for installing on a base surface, the tile having a front, a back, and an edge, characterized in that at least one supplementary element (2) is disposed in the region of the back (11), the element being preferably configured as an elastically, or ductile deformable spacer element (3), having at least one laterally protruding spacer (6), and that preferably at least one adhesive element (4) is disposed in the region of a side of the spacer (3) facing away from the tile (1).
The invention concerns a tile for installation on a foundation, said tile having a front, a back, and an edge.
Tiles of this type have typically been fixed on a foundation intended for this purpose, for example, a wall or a floor, with the use of mortar or a special tile adhesive and then jointed. The jointing cannot be done until a sufficient amount of time has elapsed to allow the mortar or tile adhesive that was used to harden. Alignment of the tiles relative to one another can be accomplished manually after visual inspection or with the use of cross spacers, which are placed between the tiles. These prior-art sequences of operations make the laying of tiles labor-intensive and make it difficult to achieve optimal alignment of the tiles.
Therefore, the objective of the invention is to design a tile of the aforementioned type in such a way that the tile can be more easily installed.
In accordance with the invention, this objective is achieved by mounting at least one supplementary element on the back of the tile.
As will be further explained below, the supplementary element can be designed in a variety of ways to facilitate the operation of laying the tile. The supplementary element facilitates and accelerates the laying process and can contribute to a reduction of the work time that is required.
Fixing the tile in place with a small amount of labor is assisted if the supplementary element is designed as an adhesive element.
To allow stacking of the tiles before they are used, it is proposed that the surface of the adhesive element that faces away from the tile be covered with a protective foil.
In accordance with a variant embodiment, it is proposed that the adhesive element be designed as a two-sided adhesive tape.
To facilitate installation of the tiles on uneven foundations, it is proposed that the supplementary element be designed as an equalizing layer.
Predetermination of the spacing of several tiles relative to one another is assisted by designing the supplementary element as a spacer element with at least one laterally projecting spacer.
To produce an interconnected system, it is proposed that spacers of adjoining tiles be arranged with some displacement relative to each other.
It is also conducive to the production of an interconnected system of the installed tiles if at least one spacer element of a tile contacts an adjoining tile from behind.
Several advantages of the invention can be combined by mounting at least one adhesive element in the area of a side of the spacer element that faces away from the tile.
To equalize unevenness of the surface on which the tiles are to be installed, it has been found to be advantageous especially to form the spacer element from a deformable material.
It is also contemplated that the spacer element be made of an elastic material.
A typical application consists in use of the tile of the invention as wall tile.
Another area of application consists in use of the tile of the invention as floor tile.
Specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings.
According to the embodiment in
The spacers 6 are designed in such a way that they border laterally on the supplementary element 2 of an adjoining tile and in this way predetermine the desired separation of the tiles. In particular, it is possible to predetermine the dimensioning of the spacer elements 3 and the spacers 6 in such a way that the spacers 6 of one tile 1 support an adjoining tile 1 from below and in this way produce an interconnected system.
In a top view of the front 7 of the tile 1,
The cross-sectional drawing in
The tiles 1 can be designed, for example, as wall tiles or floor tiles. Materials that can be used include stoneware, clayware, porcelain or natural stone. The spacer elements 3 can be made, for example, of plastic, for example, extruded polystyrene. Mineral materials can also be used, for example, foam glass. The use of natural products is also possible, for example, cork. A common characteristic of all of the materials cited above is their elasticity or deformability. This makes it possible to equalize unevenness of an installation surface, so that flat arrangement of the front sides 7 of the tiles 1 is ensured.
The adhesive elements 4 are typically designed as a water-resistant and frost-resistant adhesive film with a removable protective foil. When the protective foil is in place, the tiles 1 can be stacked in any desired way, and adhesive bonding is possible after the protective foil has been removed.
The spacer element 3 is typically fixed in place on the back 11 of the tile 1 with adhesive applied over a large area, in spots, or in strips. For example, a synthetic resin adhesive can be used for this purpose. A typical thickness of the spacer element 3 is three to eight millimeters. In addition to equalizing unevenness, the spacer element 3 serves to improve heat and sound insulation.
According to the embodiment in
The tiles 1 of the invention can be used for indoor or outdoor walls and/or floors. Potential foundations for laying the tiles are cement and gypsum plaster facings, dry gypsum plasterboard, gypsum fiberboard, particle board, poured asphalt composition floor, cement floor, dry composition floor, various available ceramic coverings, rigid foam plates, and strong, load-bearing colored coatings. Especially simple tile installation is possible with smooth and closed-pore foundations. In the case of other foundations, especially strongly sanding foundations, the use of a commercial primer has been found to be advantageous.
In the embodiment illustrated in
According to the embodiment in
Basically, various embodiments of the invention can thus be realized. It is possible to realize the supplementary element 2 only as a spacer element 3 and to adhesively bond the tile 1 with materials used in the prior art. It is also possible to provide the tile 1 only with a supplementary element 2 that is realized as an adhesive element 4 and to realize the feature of predetermined spacing of the tiles 1 by conventional means. However, optimum practical advantage is achieved if the spacer element 3 is combined with an adhesive element 4, since this makes it possible to install the tiles 1 adhesively with predetermined spacing in a very small amount of time.
The frame-like design of the spacer element that is illustrated in
In the embodiment shown in
Claims
1. A tile for installation on a foundation, said tile having a front, a back, and an edge, wherein at least one supplementary element (2) is mounted on the back (11) of the tile.
2. A tile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the supplementary element (2) is designed as an adhesive element (4).
3. A tile in accordance with claim 2, wherein the surface of the adhesive element (4) that faces away from the tile (1) is covered by a protective foil.
4. A tile in accordance with claim 2, wherein the adhesive element (4) is designed as a two-sided adhesive tape.
5. A tile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the supplementary element (2) is designed as an equalizing layer.
6. A tile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the supplementary element (2) is designed as a spacer element (3) with at least one laterally projecting spacer (6).
7. A tile in accordance with claim 1, wherein spacers (6) of adjoining tiles (1) are arranged with some displacement relative to each other.
8. A tile in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one spacer element (3) of a tile (1) contacts an adjoining tile (1) from behind.
9. A tile in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one adhesive element (4) is mounted in the area of a side of the spacer element (3) that faces away from the tile (1).
10. A tile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spacer element (3) is made of a deformable material.
11. A tile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spacer element (3) is made of an elastic material.
12. A tile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tile is realized as wall tile.
13. A tile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tile is realized as floor tile.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 5, 2008
Publication Date: Apr 22, 2010
Inventors: Weber Klaus (Hamburg), Rolf Timm (Hamburg)
Application Number: 12/449,953
International Classification: E04F 13/09 (20060101);