EP0501642A1

EP0501642A1 - Tile trim

Info

Publication number: EP0501642A1
Application number: EP92301271A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Austin Charles Murphy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-02-27
Filing date: 1992-02-17
Publication date: 1992-09-02

Abstract

A tile trim for edging tiles on a wall surface comprising:
an elongate outer, cover part (24); and
an elongate inner, fixable part (1), fixed in use at an edge of the tiles on the wall surface;
the inner part having two flanges (2,3) set at an angle to each other and engagement means (19,20) arranged in the angle between the flanges;
the outer part having a trim web (26) with a front, trim surface, a rear surface and complementary engagement means (25) extending from the rear surface;
the engagement means and the complementary engagement means being adapted for engagement with each other to hold the outer part with respect to the wall surface when the inner part is fixed with respect to the wall surface.

Description

The present invention relates to a tile trim, that is to say an elongate product for edging wall tiles, particularly at an internal corner between two walls and at sanitary ware such as baths.
Tile trims exist for edging tiles at an edge of the tiles extending across a wall or at an external corner between two walls.
When a wall is tiled to a corner, difficulty can be experienced due to the walls not being truly vertical and to the horizontal extent of the tiles not being an exact multiple of the tiles' width. These factors necessitate the cutting of tiles. The cut edges can be unsightly.
In a bathroom, tiles can be fixed to the walls against which a bath, wash basin, shower tray or the like is set. Moisture - from splashing or condensation - runs down the tiles and ideally back into the bath, for instance. Various trims, known as "bath trims", are available for diverting this moisture into the bath or other piece of sanitary ware. These can be effective, particularly those, which are intended to be fixed to the wall as such and to have a bottom course of tiles overlaying a vertical flange and a horizontal flange, which directs the moisture to flow onto a rim of the bath. However those which are intended to be fixed to the glazed, outer surface of the tiles tend to be less effective, firstly because their fixture can fail and secondly because they permit moisture to pass down behind them, particularly at grout joints between the tiles.
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved tile trim.
According to the invention there is provided a tile trim for edging tiles on a wall surface comprising:
an elongate outer, cover part; and
an elongate inner, fixable part, fixed in use at an edge of the tiles on the wall surface;
the inner part having two flanges set at an angle to each other and engagement means arranged in the angle between the flanges;
the outer part having a trim web with a front, trim surface, a rear surface and complementary engagement means extending from the rear surface;
the engagement means and the complementary engagement means being adapted for engagement with each other to hold the outer part with respect to the wall surface when the inner part is fixed with respect to the wall surface.
Conveniently the trim is normally symmetric about a central longitudinal plane between the flanges. However it may be provided that the outer part can be assembled with its plane of longitudinal symmetry set at an angle to that of the inner part. Normally the flanges will be at substantially a right angle to each other for fitting into a right angle corner.
Preferably the engagement means on the inner part is a longitudinal groove opening forwards and the complementary engagement means on the outer part is a backwards extending tongue for engagement in use in the groove. Alternatively, the tongue may be provided on the inner part and the groove may be provided on the outer part.
The tongue and the groove are preferably a push fit, the one in the other. The tongue and/or the groove may be provided with friction enhancing surface formations.
The inner part may have a pair of ribs, on the respective forward face of the flanges, to provide an abutment edge for tiles cemented over the flange. Alternatively, the tiles may be abutted against the inner part's engagement means when the ribs are not provided. Whilst the flanges may meet at a back corner behind the inner part's engagement means, it is preferred for a diagonal surface to extend between them. This is to allow the inner part to closely fit a corner to accommodate any minor imperfections in the wall surface at the corner, which might otherwise cause the inner part to be misaligned.
Conveniently back surfaces of the flanges are ribbed to assist adhesion of the inner part. Preferably, the flanges are apertured to allow adhesive to extend through the apertures and form keys over the flanges.
Where the tile trim is intended for use at an internal corner between two wall surfaces set an angle to each other, usually a right angle, the inner part will normally be secured directly against the wall surfaces, with edges of the tiles overlying the flanges, and the outer part overlying the edges of the tiles. In this case, the outer part will conveniently be a rigid part. It can be comparatively narrow, having a width of its trim web, which is less than the distance between the marginal edges of the flanges of the inner part. Preferably the trim web has a pair of tile abutment lips, one inside one edge thereof and the other inside the other edge. Conveniently, these are set at substantially a right angle to each other.
Where the tile trim is intended for use at sanitary ware such as a bath, the inner part may be secured directly onto the wall surface at the bath for instance with tiles overlying the flange fixed to the wall surface, or the inner part may be secured over tiles already fixed to the wall surface. In this case, the trim web of the outer part is preferably comparatively wide, that is wider than the distance between the marginal edges of the flanges of the inner part.
Conveniently the tile trim is made as an extrusion moulding of plastics material. In the case of a corner trim, both the inner and the outer part can be of the same relatively hard plastics material. In the case of a bath trim, the outer part can have integrally moulded marginal lips, which deform in use to tightly seal against the tiles' and the bath's surfaces against which they abut.
To help understanding of the invention, two specific embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional end view of a corner trim of the invention, with an inner part fixed to two walls at a corner and an outer part in position about to be engaged with the inner part;
Figure 2 is front view of the trim of Figure 1 with the parts engaged, but not fitted to the walls;
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a bath trim of the invention;
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, with the outer part fitted to the inner part;
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, with the inner part fitted behind tiles of the wall; and
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 of the bath trim.

Turning first to Figures 1 and 2, the inner part 1 of the tile trim thereshown has two flanges 2,3 set at approximately a right angle to each other. They taper slightly towards their marginal edges 4,5 and are connected at a common corner 6. Here the back surfaces 7,8 of the flanges 2,3 are interconnected by a diagonal surface 9. This provides that there is a small void 10 behind the inner part 1 at the corner between the surfaces 11,12 of walls to which the part 1 is fixed. The void provides that any small surface imperfection 13 in the walls at their corner does not disturb the alignment of the inner part and its fixing to the wall. The flanges 2,3 have a series of apertures 14 along their length to allow tile cement 15, with which the inner part is fixed, to form keys for improved fixing of the tile trim. As shown in Figure 1, tiles T cemented to the walls have edges overlying the flanges. Edges of the tiles abut abutment ribs 16,17 on the front faces of the flanges.
Centrally of the inner part 1, on the bisector plane of the flanges there is provided a groove 18 between two strips 19,20 extending out from the corner 6. These strips extend no further in the direction of the flanges 2,3 than the ribs 16,17, whereby the tiles T abut the ribs not the strips 19,20. On their faces opposite each other, the strips 19,20 carry shallow triangular serrations 21.
The inner part 1 is of relatively hard extruded plastics material. It should be noted that the back faces of the flanges 2,3 are ribbed to assist adhesion of the inner part, but the ribs are not shown in Figure 1, being very small.
The outer part 24 is of the same material. It comprises a trim web 26 and a rearwardly extending flange 25. This has serrations 27 complementary to those 21 on the strips 19,20. The flange 25 as a whole tapers slightly away from the trim web 26. The latter has a front face 28 with a slight contour for aesthetic reasons. The rear face 29 of the trim web has a flat central portion to either side of the flange 25 and lips 30 at the edges 31 of the web. The lips 30 are at right angles to each other so that they abut the front face of the tiles T, when the outer part is pressed home towards the inner part 1.
As can be seen in Figure 2, the trim web is narrower between its edges 31 than the dimension between the edges edges 4,5 of the flanges 2,3.
When the outer part 24 is pressed home, the flange or tongue 25 engages in the groove 18, with the groove's serrations 21 gripping the tongue's serrations 27. This secures the two parts 1,24 of the trim together. The trim web overlies the marginal portions of the tiles T, with its edges 31 moving in on the lines 32 shown in Figure 1.
Turning now to Figures 3,4 and 6, the bath trim there shown has an inner part 1 identical to that of the corner trim of Figures 1 and 2. It will not be described again. The outer part 50 of the bath trim is generally similar to that 24 of the corner trim. However as seen in Figure 6 it is wider. Its trim web 51 is an extrusion of hard plastics material with integral elastomeric, marginal lips 52. The rear flange or tongue 53 has fewer larger serrations 54 than the tongue 25 of the corner trim.
Figures 3 and 4 show the inner part of the bath trim adhered with silicone adhesive 55, which squeezes through the apertures 14 to form keys 56, to the rim R of a bath and already cemented tiles T. On pressing in of the outer part 50, after the adhesive has thoroughly hardened, the flexible lips 52 deflect against the bath rim R and the tiles T to form water tight seals. However, the trim does not rely on these seals for sealing the rim R of the bath to the tiles T. Use of silicone adhesive for securing the inner part 1 ensures that there is a water tight seal between the rim R and the flange 3 on the one hand and the tiles T and the flange 2 on the other hand. Thus the inner part itself acts to seal the bath to the tiles T and the wall supporting them. Should any moisture pass the lips 52, particularly at a grouted joint between adjacent tiles T, it will not pass further than the inner part 1 nor leak down the wall supporting the tiles. As shown in Figure 4, the tongue 53 remains aligned with the groove 18.
Referring now to Figure 5, there the inner part is shown with its flange 2 secured against a wall surface behind tiles T. For improved fixing, the flange 2 is secured by nails 57. The flange 3 is adhered to the bath rim R. With this arrangement, the trim web is tilted slightly so that the tongue 53 is out of alignment with the groove 18, although engaged in it. This is made possible by means of the serrations 54 being coarser than the serrations 21. Although the inner part 1 is of hard plastics material, its strips 19,20 can deflect slightly to accommodate the tongue 53.

Claims

A tile trim for edging tiles on a wall surface, characterised in that it comprises:
an elongate outer, cover part (24; 50); and
an elongate inner, fixable part (1), fixed in use at an edge of the tiles (T) on the wall surface;
the inner part having two flanges (2,3) set at an angle to each other and engagement means (18) arranged in the angle between the flanges;
the outer part having a trim web (26) with a front, trim surface (28), a rear surface (29) and complementary engagement means (25) extending from the rear surface;
the engagement means (18) and the complementary engagement means (25; 53) being adapted for engagement with each other to hold the outer part (21,27; 54) with respect to the wall surface when the inner part (1) is fixed with respect to the wall surface.
A tile trim as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the trim is symmetric about a central longitudinal plane between the flanges (2,3) and in that the flanges are at substantially a right angle to each other.
A tile trim as claimed in claim 1, or claim 2, characterised in that the flanges (2,3) taper towards their marginal edges.
A tile trim as claimed in preceding claim, characterised in that the engagement means (18) on the inner part (1) is a longitudinal groove (18) opening forwards and the complementary engagement means (25; 53) on the outer part is a backwards extending tongue (25; 53) for engagement in use in the groove (18), the tongue and the groove preferably being a push fit, the one in the other.
A tile trim as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the tongue (25; 53) and the groove (18) are provided with friction enhancing surface formations (21,27; 54).
A tile trim as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the tongue (25) tapers away from the trim web (26) of the outer part (24).
A tile trim as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, characterised in that the pitch of the surface formations (54) on the tongue (53) differs from that of the formations (21) in the groove (18), whereby the tongue can be gripped whilst misaligned with the groove.
A tile trim as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the inner part (1) has a pair of ribs (16,17), on the respective forward face of the flanges (2,3), to provide an abutment edge for tiles (T) cemented over the flanges.
A tile trim as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that a diagonal surface (9) extends between the flanges (2,3) at their back faces.
A tile trim as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the flanges (2,3) are apertured (14) to allow adhesive (15; 55) to extend through the apertures (14) and form keys (56) over the flanges (2,3), and the flanges (2,3) are preferably ribbed to assist adhesion of the inner part.
A tile trim as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the outer part (24) is a rigid part, for use at an internal corner between two wall surfaces set an angle to each other, with the inner part (1) secured directly against the wall surfaces, with edges of the tiles overlying the flanges, and the outer part overlying the edges of the tiles.
A tile trim as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the outer part (24) has a width of its trim web (28), which is less than the distance between the marginal edges (4,5) of the flanges (2,3) of the inner part (1), for use at an internal corner between two wall surfaces.
A tile trim as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, characterised in that the trim web (28) has a pair of tile abutment lips (30), one inside one edge thereof and the other inside the other edge, the abutment lips (30) being preferably set at substantially a right angle to each other.
A tile trim as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the trim web (51) of the outer part (50) is wider than the distance between the marginal edges (4,5) of the flanges (2,3) of the inner part (1), for use at sanitary ware such as a bath.
A tile trim as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 or claim 14, characterised in that the trim web (51) of the outer part has a rigid central portion and flexible, marginal lips (52).