Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
077003
This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior appli-
cati~n serial no. 815, 471, filed July 14, 1977 and now abandonned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
~ield of the Invention.
The present invention relates to improvements in tile cutters
generally and namely to devices for scoring and fracturing tile, glass
and the like ceramic or vitreous plate-iike materialsO More particu-
larly it relates to an improved and simplified device for scoring and
fracturing ceramic tile and includes a novel means to position the tile
for precise cuts, both perpendicular to and diagonally to the referenced
edge.
Description of the Prior Art.
The literature is replete with descriptions of numerous
prior art devices which have been designed to accomplish the dual task
of both scoring or incising and subsequently fracturing a ceramic tile,
plate of glass or a like vitreous material. Most of the prior art devices
have suffered from minor drawbacks which have not proved critical un-
til recently. Recent developments which have led to dle development of
improved tile cutters are the increasing hardness of ceramic tiles as
ceramic technology improves; the increasing thickness of ceramic tiles
in use today for decorative effects; and the pressure for greater pro-
ductivity of the tile installer because of rising labor costs.
Until recently, the only commercially available and widely
used tile cutters were one sold under the tradename Simplex and dis-
closed in U. S. Patent No. l, 873, 721 and others issued to Postley; and
one sold under the tradename Tilex and disclosed in U. S. Patent No.
2, 246, 351 and others issued to Engleke. Both of these tile cutters suf-
fered from the fact that the tile was placed in one position for scoring
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or incising and then placed in another position for fracturing. While
not necessarily a difficult operation, this extra motion was ineffecient
in its consumption of time. It also required extra manipulation of the
component assemblies of the tile cutters. A second consideration lead-
ing to the development of new tile cutters is that neither of these comm-
ercially available tile cutters performs well with the very thick tiles
which are now both available and extremely popular in the consumer
market.
Recently, an improved tile cutter, made under UO S. Patent
No. 4, 026, 262, issued to Yasuga, has become commercially available.
This tile cutter is very similar to that of the present invention, but
also differs from the present invention in critical respects. Both the
Yasuga device and the device of the present application are attempts
to improve and simplify the Tilex device and both use variations of the
~ilnplex handle. Both devices use a guide rod positioned above and
parallel to the cutter base. Both use a curved handle bearing a cutting
wheel or disk which scores a tile when pressure is applied to the handle
and the handle is pushed along the guide rod under pressure. These
features are old and are disclosed in the Postley and Engleke patents.
Both the Yasuga device and the device of the present invention improve
upon the prior art in the neither device requires repositioning of the tile
in order to fracture the tile along the scored line. Each of these devices
accomplishes this goal by incorporating a pair of lateral fins at the base
of the curved handle some distance behind the scoring desk. After the
tile is scored, additional downward pressure is exerted upon the handle,
causing the fins to engage the tile and forcing a fracture along the scored
line. The combined handle, scoring desk and fin structure of the
Yasuga device and the device of the present invention are different.
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The Yasuga handle incorporates and claims a complex cam means for
adjustment of the height of the scoring desk for varying thicknesses of
tile. This requires additional time and work for the laborer and serves
no usefulpurpose. With applicant's device, which has a simple, fixed
position cutting disk, the user simply raises or lowers the handle to ac-
comodate tiles of varying thickness. The height adjustment means for
the scoring desk as implemented and claimed in the Yasuga device are
simply unnecessary complexities which have no effect on the functional
performance of the device. Applicant's handle means is simpler in
structure, has fewer parts, is less expensive to manufacture, is sim-
pler to use and is at least equally effective. It should be pointed out
here that the Yasuga device has been commercially available for about
one year at the time of this writing while applicant's device has just
finished its prototype development . For reasons which are not at all
obvious and in fact are unknown to the trade, the Yasuga device does
not function well in the cutting of thick, hard tiles. For this reason
and for another reason, discussed hereinafter, the Yasuga device has
been a commercial failure in the trade.
The Yasuga device uses and claims an adjustable sliding plat~
means mounted within the handle to facilitate the sliding movement of
the handle along the guide rod. This is not only unnecessary; it also
adds to the cost and complexity of the device.
The most notable deficiency in the Yasuga device, and
the prime reason for its commercial failure, is its complex means for
originally positioning the tile on the base of the tile cutter, Yasuga
uses a graduated scale embossed on the base of the tile cutter and
two bars on either side of the center line to engage ~e straight edges
of the tile to hold it in position. Each of these two bars requires two
screws to tighten it in position. Thus, tO position a tile for a precise
cut in the Yasuga device, four screws must be loosened, two bars
moved, ~e tile must be positioned using the scale, the two bars must
1U770U;~
be repositioned to engage the edges of the tile and the four screws
must be retightened. Both the device and the process are too complex
and too time-consuming for the tile installer who is simply trying
to move quickly to make a profit on the job. And despite the alleged
precision attainable with the device of Yasuga, this device is not capable
of positioning a tile for a precise diagonal cut.
The device of the present invention provides a simple means
to make the usual straight cuts and also permits quick and precise
diagonal cuts.
All tile cutters operate on the same basic principles. The
tile is first scored and then pressure is applied on each side of the
score to fracture the tile along the score. The ultimate design objective
is to obtain as clean a break as possible, or a straight, flat edge along
the fracture. A second design objective is to position the fracture as
accurately as possible on the tile so that the resulting fractured tile
fits precisely into the desired pattern of the finished work. A third desi~ n
objective is to accomplish the two prior objectives as quickly as poss-
ible to save labor. A fourth design objective is to minimize the pre-
ssure required to fracture the tile to prevent marring of the tile sur-
face. All of these design objectives are achieved by the improved
simple structure of the tile cutter of the present inven tion .
The present invention uses a simple L-shaped bar held in
position by only one screw to position a tile for an accurate cut. A
notch in one leg of the L-shaped bar and an angle on the other leg per-
mit diagonal cuts to be made with equal precision. While this might
be suggested by the prior art, it is not disclosed therein and represents
a significant improvement over the prior art including the recent
Yasuga patent.
_5_
SUMMARY OF THE INVEMTION
The present invention pertains to a unified tile scoring and
fracturing device, commonly known as a tile cutter, which incorporates precise
positioning of the tile to be cut, a simple scoring device and a simple but
effective means of effecting a clean fracture along the score lineO
The invention provides an improved tile cutter for scoring and
fracturing ceramic tiles and the like comprising: a rectangular base member;
two resilient, symmetrical, rectangular work surface pads positioned on the
upper surface of said base; a scoring blade channel along the longitudinal
axis of said base member,separating said resilient work surface pads; a
recessed depression at the forward end of said scoring channel; an elongated
rectangular guide rod secured at each end in grooves in vertical support
plato mombers said guido rod positioned above and parallel to said scoring
~1RCIO ellannel; a scoring ancl fracturing means comprising: an L-shaped member
having a horizontally orLontecl olongatecl handle portion, a downward sloping
arcuate portion and a downward vertically oriented base portion; said down-
ward sloping arcuate portion having a guide channel with a downward and rear-
ward sloping base to permit said scoring and fracturing means to slide along
said guide rod and to pivot arcuately; a transversely adjustable L-shaped
guage bar means having a notch therein overhanging said base at its forward
end to position a tile on said base, having an angular trailing edge on its
shortor log; a circular scoring blade rotatably secured to the forward most
lowest point of the base portion of said scoring and fracturing means; two
symmetrical, generally triangular fracturing arm fins, each extending outward-
ly and downwardly from the opposed lower rear side surfaces of said scoring
and fracturing means base portionO
The adjustable guage bar means of the present device presents one
of its points of novelty and contributes greatly to its simplicity of use.
The adjustable guage bar is basically an L-shaped rod member having an elon-
gated transverse member slidably received into a transverse chcmnel across
the forward edge of the base support member. Its other shorter leg is
perpendicularly secured to the longer leg. This adjustable L-shaped
-- 6 --
1~770~3
member permitS two edges of a square or rectangular tile to be precisely
positioned on the base of the tile cutter with one simple screw adjustment.
The transverse leg of the adjustable L-shaped member also has a small
notch positioned about midway along its length. The shorter, longitudinal
leg has a trailing edge which angles inwardly. For an angular cut in a
rectangular or square tile, the corner of the tile is placed in the notch on
the transverse leg of the guage bar, the side edge of the tile is positioned
along the angular trailing edge of the longitudinal leg and the guage bar and the
guage bar is tightened into position. A precise diagonal cut can now be made
at any position in the tile. With appropriate adjustments any straight angular
cut can be made with the precision necessary for fine workmanship in the
finished installation.
The present invention provides a very basic and simple device
for scoring and fracturing all commercially available tiles, something which
no other tile cutter can do. It provides the simplest and easiest guage bar
of all tile cutters, adjusting to any measurement with extreme precision,
even for diagonal cuts. It has only one position for the scoring or cutting
wheel. Nothing else is necessary. The handle-holding scoring wheel is
adjusted for a solid grip and the end of the handle provides a flat pressure
area for breaking or fracturing tile. The pressure or breakingpoints of the
lateral fins are approximately four inches apart, further apart than in any
other device, to provide additional leverage in breaking or fracturing of a
tile. The tile cutter of this invention will easily score and fracture
1~7~7()03
ceramic tile from ordinary four and 1/4 inch wall tile to sizes up to ten
inches square and 3/4 inches thick. The scoring or cutting wheel used on
this device is a plain carbide wheel having no special bushings as required
by most other cutting wheels
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment
of the tile cutter of this invention showing the scoring-fracturing means in a
forward position.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the tile cutter of Figure 1 with
a work piece shown in outline on the supporting base member.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of
Figure 1.
DESCRIPIlON OF IHE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to Figure 1, which is a side elevational view of
the preferred embodiment of the tile cutter of the present invention designated
generally by the reference numeral 10. Figure 1 shows the scoring-fracturing
means in its forward position, just after a tile has been scored and prior to
its being fractured. Tile cutter 10 has a lower supporting base member 12
which is a substantially rectangularly shaped support block having a relatively
flat upper surface 13. Upper surface 13 is almost entirely covered by two
1(~770()3
symmetrical, rectangular resilient pads 20, each of which is positioned on
either side of the central longitudinal axis of upper surface 13 and each of
which inclines slightly to its respective side edge of support base 12.
Resilient pads 20 are separated by centrally oriented narrow scoring blade
channel 18 which is a slight groove that extends substantially the entire
length of support base member 12 along its longitudinal a~is.
Vertical guide plate support members 14, 16 are secured
to each end of support base member 12. Each guide plate support member 14
16 has a vertical groove 23, 23a which serves to correctly align and
immovably mount a guide rod 22 over and parallel to the longitudinal axis of
base support member 12. Guide rod 22 is a horizontally oriented, rectangula
shaped metal bar which extends between its support members 14, 16 and is
displaced above the base member 12. Guide rod 22 serves to support and
align the horizontal movement of the scoring-fracturing means 24, which
will be described more fully hereinafter.
Scoring-fracturing means 24 is a generally L-shaped structure
which has three distinctly identifiable regions. lts upper most and longer
leg is a horizontally oriented rectangularly shaped structure which serves
as the control handle member 26 of the scoring fracturing member 24.
Control handle 26 serves as the point of hand contact for the tile cutter during
the dual processes of both scoring and fracturing the tile workpiece. Control
handle 26 also serves to g~ide the scoring-fracturing means 24 during its
forward and rearward movement along guide rod 22, which is a horizontal
movement coplanar to and across the surface of the workpiece.
The vertical leg of the scoring-fracturing means 24 is a downward
and forward sloping continuation of the horizontal leg having a convex shaped
~ 7003
leading edge and a concave shaped trailing edge~ The upper region of the
vertical leg of scoring-fracturing means 24 is a centrally located hollow
guide rod channel 28 which is sized such that guide rod 22 is slidably and
snugly received therethrough providing a precise travel of scoring~racturing
means 24 along guide rod 22. Guide plate channel 28 has parallel side walls
and an upper channel surface that is parallel to supporting base member 12.
The lower interior surface of guide plate channel slopes downwardly from
its leading edge to its trailing edge, as shown in phantom line 29 in Figure
1. Guide plate chalmel 28 serves to precisely direct the horizontal scoring
movement of scoring-fracturing means 24 along guide rod 22 with a minimum
of lateral deviation during this horizontal movement. The downwardly sloping
surface 29 of guide channel 28 permits a vertical pivotal movement of
scoring-fracturing means 24 in upward and downward arcuate directions.
The upward arcuate movement, having its pivot point designated 33, permits
an upward adjustment of the scoring-fracturing means to accomodate very
thick tile work pieces. The downward arcuate movement, having its pivot
point designated 35, serves as a fulcrum for leverage in fracturing the
workpiece.
The lower base region of the vertical leg of scoring-fracturing
means 24 terminates in a substantially rectangular section designated 36.
The forward end of section 36 serves as the attachment point for the small,
circular rotatable scoring blade, disk or cutter 30 which serves as the means
to score the tile workpiece. Disk 30, known in the trade as a cutting blade
1077003
is a plain carbide which has no bushings as required by most other cutting
wheels. It is so positioned that its operative edge is below the base of
section 36.
A pair of symmetrical, laterally extending fracturing fins 34
are secured to the base region 36 of the vertical leg of scoring-fracturing
means 24. These fins 34 are substantially triangular in shape and are
positioned at the rearward end of section 36, and have slightly upward and
inward inclining base edges, as illustrated in Figure 3. The exterior tips
37 of fins 34 should be posiffoned as far as possible from the longitudinal
axis of suppor~ base member 12. Tips 37 serve as the pressure points
to fracture the scored tile workpiece when downward pressure i5 exerted on
handle 26. The lever arm extends from pivot point or fulcrum 35 to tip
37 and should be as long as possible to minimize the pressure to fracture
¦¦the tile wor iece.
:
:,
'~ 1077003
Referring now to Figure 2, an adjustable tile guage bar 38 is positione
along the forward end of base support member 12. Guage bar 38 is generally
L-shaped and its longer leg 41 is positioned transverse to the longitudinal
axis of support base member 12. Its shorter leg 42 is fixably secured to its
longer leg 41. The transverse leg 41 of guage bar 38 may slide across base
member 12 in a groove (not shown) and is secured in a desired position by
a set screw, not shown. In the usual situation, the tile workpiece is rectan-
gular in shape and can be easily held in position by adjustable guage bar 38.
Angular tiles or diagonal cuts can also be made using adjustable guage bar
38. Guage bar 38 has a notch 45 located along its longer leg 41, and shorter
leg 42 has an angular trailing edge 390 To make a diagonal cut in the typical
square tile, one corner is positioned in notch 45, a side edge is placed agains t
angular edge 39, and guage bar is tightened into position so that the line of
cut is under disk or scoring blade 30. The tile is then scored and fractured
in a conventional manner. These features of guide bar 38 may also be utili-
zed to make cuts in tiles of other shapes such :æ hexo~nal or octagonal
tiles. As the shapes of popular tiles change, it may be advisable to
utilize a plurality of guage bars 38 having varying angular tips 39. In any
event, precise angular cuts can be made by using the adjustable guage bar
38 means of this invention. It should be noted that adjustable guage bar
means can be secured in a fixed, precise position by tightening only one
screw.
A recess 32 is provided at the forward end of base support member
12 to protect scoring blade 30 when tile cutter is not in use and during the
~07700~3
fracturing operation.
In operation the cutting of the tile workpiece situated on the support
base member 12 is accomplished by manually sliding horizontally the
scoringfracturing means 24 rearward, placing and securing a workpiece in
the adjustable guide bar means 38, raising the scoring-fracturing means 24
slightly and sliding the scoring-fracturing rneans 24 forward along the guide
plate 22, with simultaneous downward pressure on the control handle 26.
This results in a precise scoring of the workpiece resting on the support
base member 12, with the rotatable blade 30 dropping into the scoring
blade recess 32
Following the scoring operation described above, the fracturing
operation is carried out as follows, With the scoring-fracturing means 24
in its extreme forward position along the guide plate 22, and the scoring
blade 30 resting in the scoring blade recess 32, the control handle 26 is
pressed further downward, dlereby causing the tips 31 of the two fracturing
arms 34, to exert a uniform downward pressure on the areas on the work-
piece on the opposite sides of the scored line. This results in the even
fracture of the workpiece along the previously scored line.
Thùs the device of the present invention provides a very simple
ceramic tile cutter which is simple to use and virtually free from malfunc-
tion. It also provides a simple adjustable guage bar means to permit angular
cuts on tiles of various shapes.
