METHODS AND DEVICES FOR SETTING MOSAIC TILES

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/729,595 entitled “POSITIONING DEVICE FOR SETTING MOSAIC TILES” filed Dec. 9, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to decorative and ceramic tiles, and more particularly to the field of tile installation, specifically to techniques to properly place penny (round, hexagonal, square, octagonal, etc.) mosaic tile sheets adjacent to each other with spacing precision, as well as systems and methods of positioning and/or setting decorative and ceramic tiles in desired locations and/or patterns.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Floor tiles are a floor finishing material, also commonly called porcelain and/or ornamental tiles. Floor tiles are typically prepared by firing clay. The specifications are various, and can be firm, pressure-resistant, wear-resistant and moisture-proof. Some floor tiles are glazed and have a decorative effect. Floor tiles can be used for the ground and floor of public buildings and civil buildings. The floor tiles have various designs and colors and wide choice, and can be divided into glazed tiles, full-body tiles (anti-skid tiles), polished tiles, vitrified tiles, and the like. The floor tile is used as a ground material for large-area pavement, and building environments with different styles are created by utilizing the color and the texture of the floor tile. For example, in large public buildings such as hospitals and municipal buildings, the floor tiles are laid over a large area, and therefore, a large amount of manpower, material resources, and financial resources are required for the floor tile laying process, and the laying efficiency and the cost are high.

The materials that makes up tile, and the methods of manufacturing, determine the tile's durability, appearance and absorption. Most ceramic tile is glazed. Glazed tile is produced from a mixture of clays that are pressed into a particular shape. A “glaze” is then applied to the top of the tile and baked on. Glazed tiles are typically available in high-gloss, matte, and abrasive, slip-resistant finishes. Glazed tiles also come in decorative styles with a pattern or hand-painted design. Since glazed tiles tend to get scratched frequently when used on floors and countertops, they are typically used on walls. Floor tile should have a finish that is not too slippery for walking on, and that does not show scratches easily. Small, mosaic tile is made up from different types of clay, with various color pigments added. Mosaics are suitable for almost any surface because they resist moisture, are stain-proof and will not chip easily.

Penny tiles are typically found in sheets of approximately 1 square foot. A sheet consists of multiple individual tiles affixed to a common backing. Backing material may be a multitude of materials, like mesh, glue, wax, etc. The individual tiles may be of many varying shapes and sizes. Common shapes include round, hexagonal, square, octagonal, etc.

When placing these tile sheets on a surface, the sheets need to be properly spaced from each other to maintain the internal pattern of each sheet-blending one sheet to the next seamlessly. A common methodology used by installers to make sure spacing is correct is to step back and look at the ‘flowers’ the different sheets make together.

For example, with round penny tiles, you will see a single penny tile in the center and 6 penny tiles around it forming a ‘flower’ pattern. If you have two sheets next to each other, the installer makes sure that the ‘flower’ on the edge of each sheet matches the pattern within a single sheet. The installer may also look to make sure the individual tiles from one sheet make a straight diagonal line with the tiles of an adjacent sheet.

Any variation from perfectly placing each sheet is easily seen after the tiles are installed. Many times imperfections don't show up until grout is applied. Misplaced tiles are aesthetically not pleasing to the eye.

Current methodologies may employ standard tile spacers ( 1/16″, ⅛″, etc.), however penny tile sheets rarely conform to standard tile spacer sizes, so prove to be a very poor means of properly placing the tile sheets. As mentioned above, another method is by employing a visual technique to try to replicate the internal pattern of a single sheet across the boundaries between two sheets. Given the imprecise nature of ‘visually’ placing the sheets, after grouting, the overall uniformity of the tile sheets can easily be seen to be askew. Even the slightest improper placement of a single sheet can ruin the overall aesthetic appeal of the installation.

After a poor installation, many times, tiles have to be removed and replaced causing delays and additional costs. Accordingly, there is need for further improvement in the positioning and/or setting decorative and ceramic tiles, and the present subject matter is such improvement.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of the subject matter in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter. This summary is not an extensive overview of the subject matter. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the subject matter nor delineate the scope of the subject matter. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the subject matter in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

Various embodiments herein disclose systems, devices and/or methods of positioning and/or setting decorative and ceramic tiles in desired locations and/or patterns. In some embodiments, disclosed are low-cost design(s) for guides, frames and/or patterns for placing and/or holding decorative and ceramic tiles in desired locations and/or orientations relative to each other.

In various applications, existing commercially available tiles and/or the performance thereof may be enhanced by the addition of one or more frames and/or patterns incorporating the various teachings disclosed herein. In various embodiments, the employment of various 3D printable materials and/or manufacturing methodologies may be utilized. In such cases, the employment of such materials and/or material mixtures in a frame construction and/or composition may enhance the strength and/or durability of a desired frame design, as well as allow for improved installation outcomes and/or greatly reduced removal/replacement rates.

In various embodiments described herein, a variety of manufacturing steps and/or processes may be performed to create a desired frame and/or component(s) thereof, including the use of different manufacturing processes to create a single frame and/or the employment of multiple different manufacturing processes to create frame components that may be ultimately assembled into a single frame ore frame assembly. Such processes could include any combinations of one or more of the following: (1) casting, (2) molding (including injection molding), (3) subtractive machining (i.e., milling and drilling), (4) additive machining (i.e., additive 3D printing), (5) welding or gluing or other manufacturing techniques, and/or any combinations thereof.

If desired, a frame could be constructed from a variety of modular components, including modular components comprising different materials. If desired, such modular components could be provided in a kit form for selection and/or assembly in a construction location. If desired, various components may be removable and replaceable.

While embodiments and applications of the present subject matter have been shown and described, it would be apparent that other embodiments, applications and aspects are possible and are thus contemplated and are within the scope of this application.

The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects of the subject matter. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the subject matter may be employed and the present subject matter is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the subject matter will become apparent from the following detailed description of the subject matter when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present subject matter will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present subject matter relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be appreciated that two copies of the drawings are provided; one copy with notations therein for reference to the text and a second, clean copy that possibly provides better clarity.

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict one exemplary embodiment of a tile setting frame constructed in accordance with various teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a zoomed section of FIG. 2 showing the radiused edges;

FIG. 4 depicts a side view of the frame of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 5 through 7 depict another exemplary embodiment of a tile setting frame;

FIG. 8 is a view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 with a handle;

FIG. 9 is a view of the embodiment of FIGS. 5 through 7 with a handle;

FIGS. 10 through 12 depict another exemplary embodiment of a tile setting frame;

FIGS. 13 through 17 depict another exemplary embodiment of a tile setting frame;

FIG. 18 depicts a top plan view of a typical tile sheet section with a ‘flower’ pattern displayed with dotted lines to check installation

FIG. 19 shows a subsection of a typical tile sheet with round offset ‘pennies’;

FIG. 20 shows a subsection of a typical tile sheet with hexagonal offset ‘pennies’;

FIG. 21 shows a subsection of a typical tile sheet with octagonal ‘pennies’ with square fillers

FIG. 22 shows two tile sheets placed beside each other

FIG. 23 shows the two tile sheets of FIG. 22 connect by a medium sized frame of the invention;

FIG. 24 shows an alternating pattern of colored tiles being placed in the voids of the frame of FIG. 23; and

FIG. 25 shows the pattern continuing down by moving the frame along the void area between the tile sheets and continuing the alternating color pattern.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the disclosure. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the disclosure may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals may represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and/or across differing embodiments. In addition, the following is a simplified summary of the subject matter in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter. This summary is not an extensive overview of the subject matter. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the subject matter nor delineate the scope of the subject matter. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the subject matter in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In various embodiments, the terms “including,” “comprising” and variations thereof, as used in this disclosure, should be interpreted as “including, but not limited to,” unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “a,” “an,” and “the,” as used in this disclosure, mean “one or more,” unless expressly specified otherwise.

In some embodiments, devices and/or device components that may be disclosed in communication with each other need not necessarily be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, components that are in direct contact with each other may contact each other directly or indirectly through one or more intermediary articles or devices.

Although process steps, method steps, or the like, may be described in a sequential order, such processes and methods may be configured in alternate orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be described does not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of the processes or methods described herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously.

When a single component, device and/or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent that more than one component, device and/or article may be used in place of a single component, device and/or article. Similarly, where more than one component, device and/or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent that a single component, device and/or article may be used in place of the more than one component, device and/or article. The functionality or the features of a component, device and/or article may be alternatively embodied by one or more other components, devices and/or articles which are not explicitly described as having such functionality or features.

Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the components, devices and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the components, devices and/or methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

The disclosed invention relates generally to an improved method and apparatus for laying tile. In particular, this invention relates to a method of using tile frames to provide both the proper grout spacing, and vertical, horizontal and/or other plumb levels, to enhance the ease of installing tile and the final appearance of newly laid tile. The tile frames of the present invention can vary in several characteristics, for example, size, shape, pitch, tile arrangement, spacing and/or color that further simplify the tiling process.

Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a frame or plastic ‘jig’ to properly place adjacent penny tile sheets. Multiple frames/jigs can be used to properly orient and space multiple adjacent tile sheets. The invention also includes the realization that forming the frame/jig to accommodate a subset of the individual tiles of adjacent sheets can allow proper placement of the sheets—avoiding ‘drift’ in the overall tile design.

The invention can incorporate multiple forms and/or frames to accommodate the different individual tile shapes and spacing. In addition, the disclosed frames may be used to help properly place accent tiles in their proper position in relationship to the other tiles.

Pattern options available when laying tile are virtually endless. However, there are two basic patterns in common usage. The “jack-on-jack” pattern is the most common, where the tile is laid like squares on a checkerboard. A “running bond” pattern has offset grout lines for every other row. While both are fairly easy to set, the running bond pattern is generally the more difficult of the two.

After settling on a particular tile line, the proper adhesive for the job must be addressed. The type of adhesive used depends on the location of tiling, and the surface (underlayment) under the tiling. Thinset adhesive can support a lot of weight so it is often used for floor installations. Thinsets also can be used in wet areas as well as those exposed to heat. Thinset adhesives come in powder form and must be mixed with either water, liquid latex, or an acrylic additive depending on the type. Thinsets are considered harder to work with because they must be mixed to the right consistency before using. Thinsets have a stronger bond and are more flexible than organic mastics.

After the final selection is made on the line of tiles, adhesive and tools, preparation of the surface to be tiled may begin. Because ceramic tile is rigid and somewhat brittle, a strong underlayment is the most important part of tile installation. New tile installation is only as good as the underlying floor. Thus, the subfloor must be adequate to support tile. Since tile can be heavy, it must be installed on a flat surface that is rigid. Subfloors under tile are typically no less than 1⅛″ thick. A flexing floor causes cracks to show up in the grout in the future, and may even cause tiles to break. If the floor “bounces” when walked over, rigidity can be added by renailing the subfloor to the floor joists. Bridging between the joists also may be added, and/or shimming the subfloor with wooden shims driven between the top edge of the joists and the bottom face of the subfloor. The surface on which the tile is installed must be smooth and free from debris, grease or wax. Uneven floors, bumps or dips also can cause tile to break. Typically, uneven or damaged floors are best covered first with an underlayment to use as the tile base. One-half inch thick cement board is often recommended by tile manufacturers. Professional tile contractors often put down a mortar, or “mud” bed. It consists of a layer of roofing felt, a wire mesh, and then mortar. While a mortar bed is by far the best underlayment for floor tile, it takes a lot of skill to finish it off level and at just the right thickness.

After the underlayment is prepared, tile is typically laid out on the underlayment to prepare various reference points and lines used layer in the actual tiling process. A row of floor tiles area are test-fit along each reference line to see how they lay out. The thickness of the grout lines are accounted for in this layout. While professional tile setters may only need a couple of reference lines to set tiles evenly, do-it-yourselfers often prepare multiple lines. Laying out sections, or a grid pattern, helps keep the tile straight and square. To layout a grid system correctly, one should begin with the basic essentials of the 3-4-5 triangle or the Pythagorean Theorem. Once a right angle has been established on the floor or wall all reference lines can be established for where to begin to lay tile. From the intersection of new reference lines, more tile is laid (about 2 or 3 square feet).

The invention may be embodied as a frame or jig comprising: a contiguous piece of fabrication material (typically plastic) that has holes in the shape of the individual penny tiles surrounded by the fabrication material making a ‘honeycomb’ style pattern that can be ‘snapped’ over the tile sheet—the holes accommodating the individual tiles and the fabrication material filling the spaces between the individual tiles. The height of the frame/jig may vary, but in various embodiments it may be ¼″ taller than the thickness of the tiles—for a ⅜″ thick tile, the frame/jig height should be approximately ⅝″ throughout to allow the individual tiles to rest below the height. One or multiple embodiments of the invention may be used simultaneously to properly place adjacent tile sheets in a mortar bed. Once the tiles are pressed into the mortar, the frame can be removed and may be reused to continue the installation.

The invention may be embodied as a frame or pattern jig comprising: a contiguous piece of fabrication material (typically plastic) that has holes in the shape of the individual penny tiles surrounded by the fabrication material making a ‘honeycomb’ style pattern that can be ‘snapped’ over the tile sheet—the holes accommodating the individual tiles and the fabrication material filling the spaces between the individual tiles. The height of the frame or jig may vary, but typically is approximately ⅝″ throughout to allow the individual tiles to rest below the height. Mortar can be applied to the installation area and the frame may be placed attached to an existing sheet and allow the user to place individual penny tiles in the available holes to form a well-oriented pattern. After the tiles are pressed into the mortar, the frame can be removed and may be reused to continue the installation

If desired, the frame or pattern jig may include a handle or other connecting device which facilitates moving and/or manipulating of the jig in a desired fashion.

The tile frame can desirably be used to maintain uniform regulation of horizontal level, vertical plumb and spacing between rows and columns of the tiles, with tile shaped openings having a thickness at least as large as the distance between a top and bottom surface of the tile element. While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 depicts a top perspective view of one exemplary frame 5 constructed in accordance with various teachings of the present invention. The frame 5 can incorporate a plurality and/or multiple holes 10, openings and/or voids, with a radiused edge 15 desirably located on the top and bottom of each hole. As shown, a handle 20 extends upwards from the base of the main “honeycomb” structure. The handle 20 can optionally include a slot 25 to allow a user to slide a penny tile down into the invention to assist in placing patterned tiles. There are partial outer holes 30 that can be positioned around the perimeter of the invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a bottom or lower perspective view of the frame 5 of FIG. 1, showing the multiple holes 10 and radiused edges 15 on the top and bottom of each hole.

FIG. 3 depicts an enlarged perspective view of the area 3 of FIG. 2, highlighting the radiused edge 15 on top and bottom of each hole.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the frame of FIG. 1, with this view rotated approximately 90 degrees clockwise. There are multiple holes, one of which is marked 10. The structure/frame of the invention is marked with 5. There is a radius edge 15 on the top and bottom of each hole. There is a handle 20 extending up from the base of the main honeycomb structure. The handle includes a slot 25 to allow the user to slide a penny tile down into the invention to assist in placing patterned tiles. There are partial outer holes 30 around the perimeter of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1. There are multiple holes, one of which is marked 10. The structure/frame of the invention is marked with 5. There is a radius edge 15 on the top and bottom of each hole. There are partial outer holes 30 around the perimeter of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the rotated embodiment of FIG. 5. The structure/frame of the invention is marked with 5. There is a radius edge 15 on the top and bottom of each hole. There is a handle 20 extending up from the base of the main honeycomb structure. The handle includes a slot 25 to allow the user to slide a penny tile down into the invention to assist in placing patterned tiles. There are partial outer holes 30 around the perimeter of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a top view of the embodiment in FIG. 5. There are multiple holes extending through the frame, one of which is marked 10. The structure/frame of the invention is marked with 5. There is a handle 20 extending up from the base of the main honeycomb structure. There are partial outer holes 30 around the perimeter of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the embodiment in FIG. 5. There are multiple holes, one of which is marked 10. The structure/frame of the invention is marked with 5. There is a radius edge 15 on the top and bottom of each hole. There is a handle 20 extending up from the base of the main honeycomb structure with a slot 25. There are partial outer holes 30 around the perimeter of the invention.

FIG. 10 depicts a perspective view of one alternative embodiment of a frame. In this embodiment, the frame 105 incorporates two concentric rows of multiple holes, one of which is marked 110. The structure/frame of the invention is marked with 105. There is a handle 120 extending up from the base of the main honeycomb structure. The handle includes a slot 125 to allow the user to slide a penny tile down into the invention to assist in placing patterned tiles. There are partial outer holes 130 around the perimeter of the invention.

FIG. 11 shows a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10. The structure/frame of the invention is marked with 105. There is a handle 120 extending up from the base of the main honeycomb structure.

FIG. 12 shows a bottom perspective view of the frame embodiment of FIG. 10. In this frame there are multiple holes 110. The structure/frame of the invention is marked with 105. There is a handle 120 extending up from the base of the main honeycomb structure. There are partial outer holes 130 around the perimeter of the frame.

FIG. 13 shows a top perspective view of the frame embodiment of FIG. 10, except the invention is rotated approximately 90 degrees clockwise. There are multiple holes, one of which is marked 110. The structure/frame of the invention is marked with 105. There is a handle 120 extending up from the base of the main honeycomb structure. The handle includes a slot 125 to allow the user to slide a penny tile down into the invention to assist in placing patterned tiles. There are partial outer holes 130 around the perimeter of the invention.

FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 13, with multiple holes 110. The structure/frame of the invention is marked with 105. There is a radius edge 115 on the top and bottom of each hole. There is a handle 120 extending up from the base of the main honeycomb structure. There are partial outer holes 130 around the perimeter of the invention.

FIG. 15 shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 13. There are multiple holes, one of which is marked 110. The structure/frame of the invention is marked with 105. There is a handle 120 extending up from the base of the main honeycomb structure. There are partial outer holes 130 around the perimeter of the invention.

FIG. 16 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 13. The structure/frame of the invention is marked with 105. There is a handle 120 extending up from the base of the main honeycomb structure.

FIG. 17 shows a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 13. There are multiple holes, one of which is marked 110. The structure/frame of the invention is marked with 105. There is a radius edge 115 on the top and bottom of each hole. There are partial outer holes 120 around the perimeter of the invention.

FIG. 18 shows one exemplary embodiment of a ‘flower’ pattern frame which can be utilized for visual alignment in a partial sheet of round penny tiles. The ‘flower’ is noted by the hexagonal shape 200 surrounding the seven penny tiles that form the ‘flower’.

FIG. 19 depicts a top plan view of a typical subsection of a standard round penny tile sheet. Such sheets typically measure approximately one (1) foot square.

FIG. 20 depicts a top plan view of a typical subsection of a standard hexagonal penny tile sheet. The hexagonal pennies are generally arranged in a staggered pattern.

FIG. 21 depicts a top plan view of a typical subsection of an octagonal penny tile sheet with diamond fillers between the octagons.

FIG. 22 depicts two penny tile sheets placed adjacent to each other, leaving a void for the desired placement of a linear pattern of tiles.

FIG. 23 depicts a frame 300 placed between the two penny tile sheets of FIG. 22, with a portion of the penny tiles positioned within holes and/or partial outer holes of the frame 300.

FIG. 24 depicts the frame 300 and penny tiles sheets of FIG. 23, with colored tiles being placed within various open holes of the frame to properly align these new colored tiles with the overall tile sheet pattern.

FIG. 25 depicts the penny tiles sheets of FIG. 23, with the frame moved downward in the pattern to allow for placement of additional colored tiles to continue pattern down the space between the tile sheets. Desirably, the frame can be lifted and moved after tile placement and repositioned down the void to properly aligning the sheet and creating placement locations for additional alternating color tiles.

While the frame is shown as having openings that approximate the size and shape of the tiles place therein, alternative embodiments may include enlarged openings that allow for micro-adjustment in the application of tile to offset the irregularities of a man-made product as tile. In addition, it assists the tile installer to not only provide perfect visual level and plumb tiles during installation, but also creates the desired grout joint widths with a minimum of effort and increased efficiency so that work time is reduced in human labor and profits are increased in relation to square foot costs for tile installers.

FIGS. 22 through 25 further depict one exemplary method for placing a plurality of decorative tiles between two tile sheets separate by a spacing, desirably locking the sheets together using a frame, such a described herein, then filling in empty spaces within the frame using an alternate color tile pattern of individual penny tiles in the spaces of the frame, then removing the frame and moving it to an adjacent location (e.g., downward in the described embodiment) to continue fixing the position of the two adjacent sheets and filling in the remainder of the color penny tile pattern. The tiles can be laid outward and upward. Once the tiles are in place, they are set into the adhesive, all at the same height. After all the whole tiles are set, the edges and trim tiles may be used.

After frame removal, a cement grout or other material(s) can be inserted or placed between the tiles to desirably adhered and seal the tile structure in a desired position. Once the tile adhesive is dry, grout is placed over the tile. There are two different types of grout: sanded and non-sanded. Sanded grout has sand added for strength. It is used for joints wider than 1/16″, like larger tile on floors. Non-sanded grout is usually mixed with a latex additive to make it stronger and more workable. It is used for joints less than 1/16 for smaller wall and countertop tiles. The color of grout can greatly effect the look of tile. Generally, using a white or a light colored grout highlights the color in tile. Using a light grout with a light tile is good for hiding mistakes made in setting the tile. Choosing a dark grout with a light tile, or light grout with a dark tile emphasizes the geometric pattern of layout. Gray is a good neutral color and it wears well on floors. It also looks good with natural-looking tiles like terra cotta.

Thus, the development of the laying method of fast-assembly ceramic tiles, which has high construction efficiency and lower technical requirements on constructors, is of great practical significance. In addition, an installer may quickly verify that the frame substantially matches the actual tile prepositioned on the floor/wall to make sure the frame is accurate.

Desirably, the disclosed frames can be provided in a plurality of sized and/or formats, including frames which may be adapted to account for an accent row border tiles or accent tiles wherein a full printed tile is already positioned above and below the accent row(s). If desired, the frame can be placed on either side of the accent row, and may be configured to be adhered to floor or wall, which embodiment may be particularly useful for complex tile patterns. For example, frames providing a unit of a repeatable wall pattern may be adhered to floor or wall by applying a thin base layer of adhesive to the floor or wall and laying the frame on top of the thin layer of adhesive. The adhesive may be mastic, thinset mortar, or any other adhesive now known or hereafter developed to adhere tile to a surface. Then, the installer may apply the tile through the openings as described herein corresponding and cut to the printed tile shape and location(s) designated by the frame. By selecting and/or cutting actual tile to match the shape of the openings of the frame and placing the actual tile directly through the openings, the user easily may replicate the pattern present on the frame.

In the various embodiments disclosed herein, a spacing and/or arrangement of the floor tiles can be modified and/or adjusted by using a frame having a different tile layout and/or spacing. Due to the placement methods described herein, the speed and efficiency of tile placement and/or “paving” is greatly improved, a large amount of manpower and material resources can be saved, and the quality of the floor tiling effort is greatly improved.

The present invention provides novel tile frames and methods of use that is simple enough to be employed by one with little or no skill in laying tile. The present invention is further economically justified for use by experienced contractors since the present invention shaves valuable time off the average professional job, and produces a better aligned tile surface which lowers the repair cost of mislaid tile.

While embodiments and applications of the present subject matter have been shown and described, it would be apparent that other embodiments, applications and aspects are possible and are thus contemplated and are within the scope of this application. The subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.

All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

The various headings and titles used herein are for the convenience of the reader and should not be construed to limit or constrain any of the features or disclosures thereunder to a specific embodiment or embodiments. It should be understood that various exemplary embodiments could incorporate numerous combinations of the various advantages and/or features described, all manner of combinations of which are contemplated and expressly incorporated hereunder.

As previously noted, the use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., i.e., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventor for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.