Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02892352 2015-05-22
IMPROVED WEDGE SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of tile.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to use wedge systems to facilitate the installation of tile.
A known wedge system involves wedges and wedge receivers. Each wedge
has a planar surface and a ribbed surface orientated in angular relation to
one
another to meet in an edge. Each wedge receiver has a planar element and a
hook element extending from the planar element in substantially perpendicular
relation. The hook element has an aperture defined therein. In use, the tiles
are laid in a generally conventional manner. The hook elements are used to
space apart the tiles, with the planar elements embedded or laid upon the thin
set. Each wedge element is threaded through a respective aperture and
pushed forward in the direction of the edge such that the tiles are captured
between the planar elements of the wedge receivers and the planar surfaces
of the wedges; this causes the tiles to align with one another. The ribbed
surface of the wedge receiver provides for a tight and reliable grip. After
the
mortar has set, the wedges are removed, the hook elements are separated
from the planar elements by a mallet and the tiles are grouted in a
conventional manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Forming one aspect of the invention is an improved wedge system of the type
used with tiles and mortar for creating a tiled surface having an array of the
tiles arranged in substantially coplanar side-by-side evenly spaced relation.
.. The wedge system includes wedge receivers and wedges.
1
CA 02892352 2015-05-22
Each wedge receiver has a planar element and a resilient hook element
extending from the planar element in substantially perpendicular relation, the
hook element having an aperture defined therein and being frangibly
connected to the planar element.
Each hook element, in use, is disposed in the manner of a tile spacer between
a pair of adjacent tiles in an array of the tiles laid in the mortar, thereby
to
provide for said substantially even side-by-side spacing of the tiles.
Each planar element, in use, is disposed beneath the pair of adjacent tiles.
Each wedge has a clamping surface and a ribbed gripping surface orientated in
angular relation to one another to meet in an edge
Each wedge, in use, extends through the aperture of a respective receiver
such that:
= the planar surface of the wedge is positioned in abutting relation
against
the pair of adjacent tiles;
= the hook element is resiliently deformed, to provide for a clamped
engagement of the pair of adjacent tiles between the planar surface of
the wedge and the planar element, thereby to provide for said
substantially coplanar relation ;
= the gripping surface grips the respective wedge receiver, to resist
withdrawal of the wedge from the aperture and maintain the clamped
engagement until the mortar has cured.
The improvement comprises an arcuate arrangement of the ribs.
According to another aspect of the invention, the ribs can be shaped such
that, in use, when the wedge is inserted through the aperture of a hook
element and the hook element is resiliently deformed, an edge of the hook
element that presents towards the ribbed surface of the wedge is use, is
itself
arcuate and nests in a valley defined between adjacent ribs.
2
CA 02892352 2015-05-22
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the components of a wedge system according to
an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 21s plan view of a mortar bed;
FIG. 3 is a view of the structure of FIG. 2 to which a tile has been secured;
FIG. 41s a view of the structure of FIG. 3 in use with a plurality of the
wedge
receivers;
FIG. 51s a view of the structure of FIG. 4, to which another tile and further
wedge receivers have been added
FIG. 6 is a view of the structure of FIG. 5 in use with a pair of the wedges;
FIG. 7 is a view along section 7-7 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 81s a view along section 8-8 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 91s an enlarged view of encircled structure 9 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the structure of FIG. 9;
FIGS. 11A-H are views of a wedge receiver according to another embodiment;
FIGS. 12A-H are views of a wedge receiver according to another embodiment;
FIGS. 13A-H are views of a wedge receiver according to another embodiment;
FIGS. 14A-H are views of a wedge receiver according to another embodiment;
FIGS. 15A-H are views of a wedge receiver according to another embodiment;
FIGS. 16A-H are views of a wedge receiver according to another embodiment;
FIGS. 17A-H are views of a wedge receiver according to another embodiment;
FIGS. 18A-H are views of a wedge receiver according to another embodiment;
and
FIGS. 19A-H are views of a wedge receiver according to another embodiment.
3
CA 02892352 2015-05-22
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference is now made to FIG. 1 which shows the components of a wedge
system 20 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
The wedge system 20 will be understood to be of the general type used with
tiles and mortar for creating a tiled surface having an array of the tiles
arranged in substantially coplanar side-by-side evenly spaced relation and
including wedge receivers 22 and wedges 24.
Each wedge receiver has a planar element 26 and a resilient hook element 28
extending from the planar element in substantially perpendicular relation, the
hook element having an aperture 30 defined therein and being frangibly
connected to the planar element.
Each hook element 28, in use, is disposed in the manner of a tile spacer
between a pair of adjacent tiles 14 in an array of the tiles laid in a mortar
bed
12, thereby to provide for substantially even side-by-side spacing of the
tiles.
The planar element 26 from which said each hook element 28 extends, in use,
is disposed beneath the pair of adjacent tiles 14, all as shown in FIG. 5 and
7.
Each wedge has a clamping surface 32 and a gripping surface 34 orientated in
angular relation to one another to meet in an edge 36. At the
end of the
wedge opposite edge 36 is a forcing surface 52 that is disposed at an angle to
the clamping surface 32.
4
CA 02892352 2015-05-22
Each wedge, in use, as shown in FIG. 6 and 8 extends through the aperture of
a respective receiver such that:
= the planar surface of the wedge is positioned in abutting relation
against
the pair of adjacent tiles;
= the hook element is resiliently deformed, to provide for a clamped
engagement of the pair of adjacent tiles between the planar surface of
the wedge and the planar element, thereby to provide for said
substantially coplanar relation;
= the gripping surface grips the respective wedge receiver, to resist
withdrawal of the wedge from the aperture and maintain the clamped
engagement until the mortar has cured.
After the mortar has cured, the wedges are removed and the hook elements
are separated from the planar elements by a mallet, by virtue of the frangible
connection therebetween.
Persons of ordinary skill will readily appreciate that all of the above Is
conventional.
The improved wedge system differs from the prior art by virtue of, inter al/a,
a gripping surface 34 defined by a plurality of arcuate ribs 38, by a pair of
wings or lips on the wedge, opposite the edge 36, by an arcuate shape of the
forcing surface 52 and by an angled relationship of the forcing surface 52 to
the clamping surface of about 80 .
More specifically, the arcuate ribs 38 are shaped such that, in use, when the
wedge is inserted through the aperture of a hook element and the hook
element is resiliently deformed, an edge 40 of the hook element that presents
towards the ribbed surface of the wedge is use, is itself arcuate and nests in
a
valley 42 defined between adjacent ribs 38.
The improved wedge system has been found to be relatively easy to use and
relatively long-wearing when made of materials similar to those of the prior
art.
5
Whereas prior art wedge systems often require pliers to provide for adequate
engagement of the wedges, the wedges in the improved wedge system can be
easily installed by hand, with the wedge and wedge receiving pinched between
the thumb and forefingers, respectively, of the user. Without intending to be
bound by theory, it is believed that the angle of the forcing surface 52
facilitates
hand insertion of the wedge. However, the wedges can also be installed using
pliers, if desired.
Further, whereas prior art wedges have a tendency to wear along the edges in
use, and typically lose effectiveness after about ten uses, wedges of the
present
invention have proven useful for up to 100 uses. Without intending to be bound
by theory, it is believed that the arcuate arrangement of the ridges provides
for
the above.
The wings or lips on the wedge facilitate removal of the wedge, when desired,
and also increase the surface area of the forcing surface, which, without
intending to be bound by theory, may facilitate hand insertion of the wedge.
Other notable areas of improvement in the wedge system shown include steps
defined at the leading edge of the wedge, which can be used to clean grout
lines, notches defined at the junction of the hook elements and planar
elements, to define the frangible connection.
Whereas a specific embodiment is shown in Figures 1-10, variations are
possible.
For example, FIGS. 11-19 show a number of variations of the wedge receiver
adapted for use with tiles of differing thickness [the hook elements are
taller or
shorter, as required] and adapted to produce grout lines of differing
thickness
[protuberances of differing thicknesses on the hook elements are provided
adjacent the notches].
FIGS. 11A-H are views of a wedge receiver 22' according to another
embodiment which is useful for relatively thick tiles and provides for a 1mm
grout line.
6
CA 2892352 2018-10-30
CA 02892352 2015-05-22
FIGS. 12A-H are views of a wedge receiver 22" similar to that of FIGS. 11A-H
which provides for a 2mm grout line.
.............................................................. FIGS. 13A-H are
views of a wedge receiver 22" similar to that of FIGS. 11A-H
which provides for a 3mm grout line.
FIGS. 14A-H are views of a wedge receiver 22' according to another
embodiment which is useful for tiles thinner than those of FIGS. 11-13 and
provides for a 1mm grout line.
FIGS. 15A-H are views of a wedge receiver 22 ....................... similar
to that of FIGS. 14A-
H which provides for a 2mm grout line.
............................................................. FIGS. 16A-H are
views of a wedge receiver 22 similar to that of FIGS. 14A-
H which provides for a 3mm grout line.
FIGS. 17A-H are views of a wedge receiver 22 .......................
according to another
embodiment which is useful for tiles thinner than those of FIGS. 14A-H and
which provides for a 1 mm grout line.
FIGS. 18A-H are views of a wedge receiver 22" similar to that of FIGS.
17A-H which provides for a 2mm grout line.
FIGS. 19A-H are views of a wedge receiver 22 ....................... similar
to that of FIGS.
17A-H which provides for a 3mm grout line.
Accordingly, the invention should be understood as limited only by the
accompanying claims, purposively construed.
7
