The invention relates generally to the field of construction tools, and more particularly to an improved hand tool for removing excess mastic and other debris from tile spacing lines.
Installing tile typically involves using an adhesive (typically referred to as mastic) to secure the tiles to a subsurface. The tiles are typically spaced apart along seams (which are the spaces between adjacent tiles). Excess mastic is removed from the seams in order to leave a recess of sufficient depth for later-applied grout to be firmly seated. After the mastic is dried, grout is applied to the seams to provide a firm seal and also to provide a smooth, visually-appealing transition between tiles.
Cleaning the excess mastic and other debris from between the tiles is time-consuming and difficult. It is important to remove mastic fully to the tile edges and to a depth sufficient to leave a seam with sufficient depth to firmly seat the later-applied grout, but it is also important not to remove too much mastic in order to assure that some mastic remains toward the bottom of the seam so that the mastic serves to bond adjacent tiles. Ideally, after cleaning out of the excess mastic there will remain a seam between tiles that is of relatively constant dimension, where all mastic s cleaned from the upper portions of the edges of adjacent tiles, but where some mastic remains toward the bottom of the seam and extending between the adjacent tiles to secure the adjacent tiles together. It is also important to clean the mastic that may have been inadvertently applied to the upper surface of the tile during installation.
What has been needed is method and device for efficiently and easily cleaning excess mastic and other debris from tile seam lines. The current invention meets those needs.
The invention is a method, system, and device for removing excess mastic and other debris from between tile edges, e.g., within seams between adjacent tile pieces.
In an embodiment of the invention, a hand tool having multiple straight sides is provided, with each side having a rectangular projection extending from the side from about the middle of the side. All elements (i.e., main body and projections) of the hand tool may be formed as a unitary body, such as from a molded rubber or thermoplastic block, such as is formed via a single-pour molding process. Materials may include rubber, neoprene, and/or polyurethane or other polymers. The resulting structure should not be entirely stiff/rigid, but should have sufficient flexibility so that the hand tool edges can engage the tile surface in a squeegee-like fashion without scratching the surface of the tile. Examples of materials for use for the hand tool include materials, such as polyurethanes, having shore hardness from A55 to D50.
Each projection may be sized to fit relatively snugly into a different-width seam between adjacent tiles. After the tiled is installed via mastic, but prior to the mastic drying, a selected side of the hand tool can be placed against adjacent tiles, with the rectangular projection extending into the seam so that the opposing edges of the rectangular projection engage against the edges of the adjacent tiles that define the seam. With downward pressure applied by the user, the hand tool can be slid along the seam, with the selected side cleaning, in a “squeegee” fashion, the excess mastic from the tile upper surfaces, while the projection simultaneously cleans the excess mastic from the seam and leaves a substantially rectangular seam trough having relatively constant depth. After the cleaning is completed for all tiles and seams, the mastic is allowed to set. After the mastic is set, grout can be applied into the seams.
The rectangular and relatively deep seam trough formed by the hand tool is particular helpful in providing a well-formed recess (i.e., seam trough) that can securely seat subsequently-applied grout. This is in contrast to more shallow seam troughs, which may have a shallow curved or V-shape (such as might be formed with a semi-circle or V-shaped projection), subsequently-applied grout might not be able to set securely with the seam trough, with the result that the grout after drying might easily flake out of the seam trough. By contrast, the current invention provides a relatively deep trough with steep sides in which grout can be securely seated.
The tool can also be used in removing and replacing old grout. For example, after much of the old grout has been machined or otherwise removed (e.g., using known methods, such as small rotating grout saws), the device of the invention may be used to clean loose and/or fine grout pieces and other debris that may have fallen in (or back in) to the seam.
Further details of various embodiments of the devices and methods of the invention are set forth in greater detail below with respect to the below-referenced drawings.
As depicted in
Various dimensions are within the scope of the invention. Examples of dimensions of preferred embodiments include thicknesses of 1/32 to 1 inch, 1/16 to ½ inch, ⅛ to ¼ inch, and/or about ⅛ inch. Widths/lengths of preferred embodiments may be between 1 and 5 inches, between 2 and 4 inches, and/or about 3 inches. While a substantially square-shaped main body 12 is depicted, other multi-sided shapes are also within the scope of the invention, including non-square rectangles (i.e., with length unequal to width), triangle, pentagon, and other polygonal shapes. The particular dimensions for a specific hand tool according to the invention may depend on the particular application, including aspects such as the materials forming the hand tool 10, etc.
In the particular embodiment depicted, the hand tool 10 has four sides 22a-22d. Extending from the middles of each side 22a-22d are projections 24a-24d. In the particular embodiment depicted, the projections have the same thickness 18 as the main body 12, although other thicknesses are also within the scope of the invention. Each projection may have a different width 26a-26d from the other projections. In a preferred embodiment, projection widths include about 1/16 inches (for 26a), about 1/18 inches (for 26b), about 3/16 inches (for 26c), and about ¼ inches (for 26d). Each projection 24a-24d has a length 28a-28d. The lengths 28a-28d of different projections may be equal, or may be different. In one embodiment, all projections 24a-24d have identical lengths 28a-28d. Examples of ranges for lengths 28a-28d according to preferred embodiments include between 1/16 and ½ inch, between ⅛ and ¼ inch, and/or about 3/16 inch. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the main body 12 is square with a width and length of about 3 inches; all projections have a length of about 3/16 inches; projection widths include about 1/16 inches (for 26a), about 1/18 inches (for 26b), about 3/16 inches (for 26c), and about ¼ inches (for 26d); and the device (including main body and projections) has a thickness of about ⅛ inch. In the embodiment depicted, each projection 24a-24d forms a rectangular shape extending from the main body 12.
As seen in
Various materials may be used to form devices of the invention. For example, a device according to the invention may be formed as a unitary piece, such as from a molded rubber or thermoplastic block which may be formed via a single-pour molding process. Materials may include rubber, neoprene, and/or polyurethane or other polymers having sufficient flex to act in squeegee-like fashion. The resulting structure should not be entirely stiff/rigid, but should have sufficient flexibility so that the hand tool edges can engage the tile surface in a squeegee-like fashion without scratching the surface of the tile. Examples of materials for use for the hand tool include materials, such as polyurethanes, having shore hardness from A55 to D50.
Methods of using the device during installation of tile for removal of excess mastic are depicted in
Prior to the mastic 44 drying, the user compares the seam width 52 against the widths of the projections 24a-24d of the device 10, and selects the projection (e.g., projection 24d) having the width that most closely fits into the seam 50. As depicted in
As depicted in
Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. For example, although the above devices and methods are described for use in a particular manner, the devices and methods described herein could be used in a variety of different methods of use. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and descriptions of specific embodiments herein are proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the invention, and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.
The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/649,864, filed May 21, 2012 and entitled “Hand Tool for Cleaning Mastic from Tile Spacing Tiles,” the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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1195297 | Vlchek | Aug 1916 | A |
3686703 | Ray | Aug 1972 | A |
3761992 | Schneller | Oct 1973 | A |
4211501 | Pedroso | Jul 1980 | A |
7484263 | Rice | Feb 2009 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country |
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29801028 | Apr 1998 | DE |
19757908 | Jul 1999 | DE |
19847514 | May 2000 | DE |
10053066 | Apr 2002 | DE |
2762030 | Oct 1998 | FR |
9744551 | Nov 1997 | WO |
Entry |
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Partial machine translation of WO 97/44551, Nov. 27, 1997. |
https://www.artmolds.com/shore-hardness/, 3 pages. |
Partial machine translation of FR 2,762,030, Oct. 16, 1998. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61649864 | May 2012 | US |