Measuring device and method of manufacture

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6523272
  • Patent Number
    6,523,272
  • Date Filed
    Friday, August 3, 2001
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 25, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Bennett; G. Bradley
    Agents
    • Parsons & Goltry
    • Parsons; Robert A.
    • Goltry; Michael W.
Abstract
An adjustable measuring device includes a base having a front end, a rear setting end, opposing sides and a slidably attached slide member having a front marking end, a rear end and opposing sides. A pair of opposing locking elements is attached at the front end of the base for releasably securing the sides of the slide member against the base. One of the locking elements is attached to one of the sides of the base at the front end thereof and the other of the locking elements is attached to the other of the sides of the base at the front end thereof.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates to tile installation techniques and methods and, more particularly, to tile measuring devices and to methods of manufacturing tile measuring devices.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The use of ceramic and clay floor tiles is well known. In a typical tile installation, tiles are bonded to a subfloor or other prepared surface with an adhesive such as thin set mortar. Tiles are commonly laid in place with a small, uniform gap existing between adjacent tiles. These gaps are filled with grout.




One task that must be routinely executed when laying rectangular or square tile is cutting tiles which are to be laid about the perimeter of a given space such that the cut tile is suitably sized for installation between the last laid full size tile and a marginal straight edge, such as a wall. The common practice of accomplishing this is to cut perimeter tiles to fit the remaining space between the last laid tile and the wall using a tape measure while accounting for grout joint spacing on each side of the perimeter tile. This method is time consuming and requires precise alignment of the loose tile to permit it to be scribed and cut accurately. If the tile is not properly positioned, aligned, or cut, then the tile will not properly fit the available space. The problem is even more pronounced when the tile setter does not possess the skill of a professional.




In response to the problems associated with the foregoing method of measuring and cutting tile, tile measuring tools are now available. Many of the existing tile measuring tools are adjustable and provide an easy way for skilled and unskilled workers to cut and piece in tile pieces between a marginal edge and a last laid full size tile. Although most existing tile measuring tools are adequate, they are difficult to adjust and manufacture. Given these and other deficiencies in the art, the need for certain new and useful improvements in the field of tile measuring devices is evident.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The above problems and others are at least partially solved and the above purposes and others realized in an improved adjustable measuring device and method of manufacture. Preferably, an adjustable measuring device of the invention includes a base having a front end, a rear setting end, opposing sides and a slidably attached slide member having a front marking end, a rear end and opposing sides. A locking element is attached to one of the sides of the base at the front end thereof for releasably securing one of the sides of the slide member against the base. Another locking element is attached to the other of the sides of the base at the front end thereof for releasably securing the other of the sides of the slide member against the base. Preferably, the locking elements are threadably attached to the sides of the base in working opposition to the sides of the slide member. The sides of the slide member are slidably received in opposing ways disposed at the sides of the base. The locking elements are considered disposed at and attached to the ways of the base.




The invention also contemplates a method of manufacturing a measuring device. In accordance with the principles of the invention, a preferred method includes steps of a)providing a first piece of malleable sheet stock having a front end, a rear end, opposing first and second sides and opposing first and second major faces, and b)forming a first tab into the first side of the first piece at the front end thereof and an opposing second tab into the second side of the first piece at the front end thereof. The method further includes steps of c)folding the first and second tabs over the first major face of the first piece, and d)folding lengths of the sides of the first piece over the second major face of the first piece so as to form opposing ways. The method next provides e)providing a second piece of sheet stock having a front end, a rear end and opposing sides, f)slidably disposing the opposing sides of the second piece into the opposing ways of the first piece, g)attaching a first locking element to the first tab and to an opposing portion of the first piece in working opposition to one of the sides of the second piece, and h)attaching a second locking element to the second tab and to an opposing portion of the first piece in working opposition to the other of the sides of the second piece. Preferably, the step of attaching the first locking element to the first tab and to the opposing portion of the first piece in working opposition to one of the sides of the second piece further includes the step of threadably attaching the first locking element to the first tab and to the opposing portion of the first piece in working opposition to the one of the sides of the second piece. The step of attaching the second locking element to the second tab and to the opposing portion of the first piece in working opposition to the other of the sides of the second piece further includes the step of threadably attaching the second locking element to the second tab and to the opposing portion of the first piece in working opposition to the other of the sides of the second piece. The invention also provides a measuring device constructed in accordance with the foregoing method.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




Referring to the drawings:





FIG. 1

is an isometric view of a measuring device in use during the installation of a floor tile and constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention, the measuring device including a base and a slidably attached slide member;





FIG. 2

is a top plan of the measuring device of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a side elevation of the measuring device of

FIG. 1

, the opposite side elevation being the substantial mirror image;





FIG. 4

is an enlarged fragmented perspective view of a portion of the device of

FIG. 1

illustrating a locking element;





FIG. 5

is an elevated perspective of the base of

FIG. 1 and a

handle as they would appear during the assembly of the measuring device of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 6

is a top plan of a piece of sheet material fashioned during the formation of the base of

FIG. 1

; and





FIG. 7

is a top plan of a piece of sheet material fashioned during the formation of the slide member of FIG.


1


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




The present invention provides new and improved apparatus for measuring tile and associated methods of manufacturing a measuring device. In the interest of clarity, the ensuing discussing sets forth the structural features of a measuring device in §A, and a method of manufacturing a measuring device in §B.




§A. Apparatus




Referring to the drawings,

FIGS. 1-3

illustrate a measuring device


10


embodying the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1

illustrates device


10


in use during tile installation. Device


10


includes a base


11


and an attached reciprocally movable slide member


12


. Preferably, base


11


and slide member


12


are each constructed of malleable sheet stock such as steel, aluminum or the like. However, base


11


and slide member


12


can be fashioned from plastic or wood or other form of generally rigid material or combination of materials. Preferably, base


11


and slide member


12


are each integrally fashioned from a single piece of malleable sheet stock. However, base


11


and slide member


12


can each be assembled from two or more prefabricated parts. Base


11


and slide member


12


are generally coextensive.




As further seen in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, base


11


is overall generally planar and rectangular and has a front end


20


, a rear end


21


and opposing sides


22


,


23


. Rear end


21


is considered a setting end of device


10


and is characterized by a down-turned portion


24


having a free edge


25


. Edge is considered a setting edge and defines a setting end of device


10


. Down-turned portion


24


and free edge


25


are also well illustrated in FIG.


3


. With continuing reference to

FIG. 1

, base


11


also includes opposing major faces


36


,


37


and ways


38


,


39


. Ways


38


,


39


are formed at sides


22


,


23


, respectively, extend along substantially the entire length of base


11


from front end


20


to rear end


21


, and are characterized by elongate side portions that are in-turned toward major face


37


.




As still further seen in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, slide member


12


is overall generally planar and rectangular and has a front end


30


, a rear end


31


(shown only in FIG.


7


), opposing sides


32


,


33


and opposing major faces


34


,


35


(face


35


is denoted in FIGS.


1


,


3


). Front end


30


is considered a marking end of device


10


and is characterized, as shown in FIGS.


1


,


3


, by a down-turned portion


36


having a free edge


37


. Edge


37


is considered a marking edge and defines a marking end of device


10


.




Regarding FIGS.


1


,


2


, sides


32


,


33


of slide member are located in ways


38


,


39


, respectively, and are slidably received therein. Rear end


31


of slide member


12


extends into front end


20


of base


11


and front end


30


of slide member


12


extends away from front end


20


of base


11


. Consistent with this arrangement, slide member


12


is movable in reciprocal directions in opposition to front end


20


of base


11


as generally indicated by the double arrowed line A in

FIG. 1

, which therefore allows the marking end of device


10


to be moved in reciprocal directions in opposition to base


11


. This permits the marking end of device


10


to be moved relative to base


11


to a position that corresponds to the size of a given tile plus the grout joint spacing on each side of the perimeter tile, which is actually twice the width of the grout line. This measuring distance D as denoted in

FIG. 1

is measured from the marking end of device


10


, namely, free edge


37


, to the setting end of device


10


, namely, edge


25


. Distance D as measured from edge


25


to edge


37


set with the aid of a tape measure or ruler or other appropriate measuring device. Attached locking elements


40


,


41


are useful for locking slide member


12


in place to base


11


after the slide member


12


is adjusted and distance D from edge


25


to edge


37


is set.




Locking elements


40


,


41


are adjustably attached to base in working opposition to sides


32


,


33


of slide member


12


and are thus capable of interacting with sides


32


,


33


and locking them against ways


38


,


39


, respectively. Preferably, locking element


40


is attached to side


22


at front end


20


of base


11


. Locking element


41


opposes locking element


40


and is attached to side


23


at front end


20


of base


11


. Locking element


40


is a threaded element that extends through base


11


and into way


38


and opposes side


32


of slide member


12


and is movable in reciprocal directions in opposition to side


32


in response to rotation thereof. Locking element


41


is also a threaded element that extends through base


11


and into way


39


and opposes side


33


of slide member


12


and is movable in reciprocal directions in opposition to side


33


in response to rotation thereof. By selectively rotating locking elements


40


,


41


, they can be loosened for permitting the reciprocal adjustment of slide member


12


relative to base


11


and tightened against sides


32


,


33


of slide member


12


for securing sides


32


,


32


against ways


38


,


39


, respectively, for securing slide member


12


against base


11


. Locking elements


40


and


41


are furnished with enlargements


42


,


43


, respectively, for easy gripping.




Base


11


includes tags


44


,


45


that are located at sides


22


,


23


, respectively, at front end


20


. Tags


44


,


45


overly and oppose respective portions of face


36


. Looking also to

FIG. 4

, locking element


40


is threadably attached to and received by tag


44


and to the opposing portion of base


11


that it overlies and extends into way


38


in opposition to side


32


. Consistent with this structural arrangement, locking element


40


can be considered attached to way


38


. Locking element


41


is threadably attached to and received by tag


45


and to the opposing portion of base


11


that it overlies and extends into way


39


in opposition to side


33


. Consistent with this structural arrangement, locking element


41


can be considered attached to way


39


.





FIG. 1

illustrates a tile


50


laid with a space


51


left between it and a wall


52


, which can be considered a marginal edge of an enclosure. To cut a piece of tile to fit in space


51


, it is only necessary to adjust the distance between edges


37


and


25


of device to correspond to the width of tile


50


plus twice the width of the grout line, lay a second tile


70


on top of tile


50


, place edge


25


against wall


52


, position edge


37


atop tile


70


and then draw a line along tile


70


where indicated by edge


37


, with that portion of tile


70


forward of the drawn line to define the tile piece to be cut away and fit into space


51


. A handle


53


attached to face


36


by welding or rivets or the like is useful for wielding device


10


during use.




Tiles are often laid in a diamond form. However, it is only necessary to extend the distance between edges


37


and


25


to the diagonal dimension of the tile plus twice the width of the grout line and then to use device


10


exactly as before to make a portion of the tile to be cut.




The use of device


10


is reversible, such that edge


37


can be employed as the setting edge and edge


25


the marking edge. Device


10


is disclosed herein as useful in connection with tile, and it may also be used with stone, marble, wood flooring, vinyl flooring, etc.




§B. Method of Manufacture




In accordance with the principles of the invention, it is preferred that base


11


and slide member


12


be integrally formed from malleable sheet stock such as steel, aluminum or the like and preferably steel. Consistent with this, attention is now directed to

FIG. 6

, in which is shown a top plan of a generally flat or planar piece


60


of malleable sheet material. Piece


60


is generally rectangular and is to be formed into base


11


of device


10


. Preferably, the form of piece


60


in

FIG. 6

is fashioned from a larger piece of material by cutting, machining or stamping, and includes in common with base


11


front end


20


, rear end


21


, portion


24


, free edge


25


, opposing faces


36


,


37


(face


37


is not delineated in

FIG. 6

) and tabs


44


and


45


. Piece


60


has opposing sides


61


,


62


and tabs


44


,


45


are formed into sides


61


,


62


, respectively, at front end


20


. In the anticipation of the threaded attachment of locking elements


40


,


41


, holes


63


,


64


are formed through tabs


40


,


41


, respectively. An adjacent, substantially equally sized hole


65


is formed through base


11


opposite to hole


63


, and an adjacent, substantially equally sized hole


66


is formed through base


11


opposite to hole


64


. At this point, tabs


44


,


45


are taken up by hand or with a gripping tool and folded over as suggested in

FIG. 5

so as to overly portions of face


36


and holes


65


,


66


, respectively, as best shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

. When folded over face


36


, holes


62


,


65


align with one another and holes


63


,


66


align with one another. Holes


62


-


66


are formed by drilling, and can be formed after tabs


44


,


45


are folded over if desired.




In continuing with the formation of base


11


, opposing lengths


61


A,


62


A of sides


61


,


62


from tabs


44


,


45


to rear end


21


are folded over face


37


(not shown in

FIG. 6

) as suggested in

FIG. 5

(side


62


and length


62


A is not explicitly shown in FIG.


5


), which forms ways


38


,


39


of device


10


as best illustrated in

FIGS. 1 and 2

. The relatively small lengths


61


A,


62


A of sides


61


,


62


from tabs


44


,


45


to front end


20


are also folded over in common to lengths


61


A,


62


A and this completes the formation of ways


38


,


39


, which generally define sides


32


,


33


of base


11


. Lengths


61


A,


62


A can be furnished as tabs in lieu of tabs


44


,


45


if desired. To complete the formation of base


11


, portion


24


is folded downwardly away from face


36


as suggested in FIG.


5


and the ends of handle


53


are attached to face


36


with the use of welding, screws, rivets, etc.




Having formed base


11


, slide member


12


is to be formed, although it may be formed before or during the formation of base


11


. Attention is now directed to

FIG. 7

, in which is shown a top plan of a generally flat or planar piece


70


of malleable sheet material. Piece


70


is generally rectangular. Preferably, piece


60


is fashioned from a larger piece of material by cutting, machining or stamping, and includes in common with base slide member


11


front end


30


, rear end


31


, sides


32


,


33


, faces


34


,


35


(face


35


is not shown in FIG.


7


), portion


36


and edge


37


. Portion


36


defines a length of end


30


from side


32


to side


33


, and it is bent downwardly toward face


35


(not shown) or otherwise away from face


34


in the form as depicted in

FIGS. 1 and 3

. The width of piece


70


from side


32


to side


33


approximates the width from way


38


to way


39


.




Having completed the formation of slide member


11


, it is slidably inserted into base


11


. This simple operation of slidably mounting slide member


12


to base


11


consists of directing rear end


31


toward front end


20


of base, locating sides


32


,


33


of slide member


11


at rear end


31


into ways


38


,


39


, respectively, of base


11


at front end


20


and then forcibly sliding slide member


11


into and through ways. It is important that face


34


of slide member oppose face


37


of base


11


, so that portion


36


of slide member


11


and portion


24


of base


11


each extend downwardly away from handle


53


as shown in FIG.


3


. After locking element


40


is threadably installed into and through openings


63


,


65


in a direction from face


36


of base


11


and locking element


41


is threadably installed into and through openings


64


,


66


in a direction from face


36


of base


11


, device


10


can then be employed in accordance with this the discussion set forth in §A, supra. It will be understood that openings


63


,


65


lead to way


38


, that openings


64


,


66


lead to way


39


and that locking elements


40


,


41


pass into ways


38


,


39


, respectively, and are capable of being tightened against sides


32


,


33


, respectively, of slide member


12


for securing sides


32


,


33


against ways


38


,


39


, respectively. Accordingly, it will further be understood that locking element


40


is attached to base


11


in working opposition to side


32


and that locking element


41


is attached to base


11


in working opposition to side


33


.




The integral fashioning of base


11


and slide member


12


each from a single piece of malleable sheet stock are done with simple cutting and bending operations and so the manufacture of a measuring device in accordance with the method of the present invention is very easy to carry out and efficient.




The present invention has been described above with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made in the described embodiments without departing from the nature and scope of the present invention. Various changes and modifications to the embodiment herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof.



Claims
  • 1. Apparatus comprising:a base having a front end, a rear setting end, opposing sides, a first tab overlying a first portion of the base at one of the sides of the base, a second tab overlying a second portion of the base at the other of the sides of the base, and a slidably attached slide member having a front marking end, a rear end and opposing sides; a first locking element secured to the first tab and the first portion of the base for movement between a first position away from one of the sides of the slide member and a second position against the one of the sides of the slide member securing the one of the sides of the slide member against the base; and a second locking element secured to the second tab and the second portion of the base for movement between a first position away from the other of the sides of the slide member and a second position against the other of the sides of the slide member securing the other of the sides of the slide member against the base.
  • 2. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first locking element comprises a first threadably attached adjustment element disposed in working opposition to the one of the sides of the slide member.
  • 3. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second locking element comprises a second threadably attached adjustment element disposed in working opposition to the other of the sides of the slide member.
  • 4. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein sides of the slide member are slidably received in opposing ways disposed at the sides of the base.
  • 5. Apparatus of claim 4, wherein base includes opposing major faces and the ways are disposed at one of the major faces.
  • 6. Apparatus comprising:a base having a front end, a rear setting end, opposing sides each forming a way, a first tab overlying a first portion of the base at one of the sides of the base, and a second tab overlying a second portion of the base at the other of the sides of the base; a slide member having a front marking end, a rear end and opposing sides each slidably disposed in one of the ways; a first locking element secured to the first tab and the first portion of the base for movement between a first position away from one of the sides of the slide member and a second position against the one of the sides of the slide member securing the one of the sides of the slide member against the one of the ways; and a second locking element secured to the second tab and the second portion of the base for movement between a first position away from the other of the sides of the slide member and a second position against the other of the sides of the slide member securing the other of the sides of the slide member against the other of the ways.
  • 7. Apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first locking element comprises a first threadably attached adjustment element disposed in working opposition to the one of the sides of the slide member.
  • 8. Apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second locking element comprises a second threadably attached adjustment element disposed in working opposition to the other of the sides of the slide member.
  • 9. Apparatus of claim 6, wherein base includes opposing major faces and the ways are disposed at one of the major faces.
  • 10. A method comprising steps of:providing a first piece of malleable sheet stock having a front end, a rear end, opposing first and second sides and opposing first and second major faces; forming a first tab into the first side of the first piece at the front end thereof and an opposing second tab into the second side of the first piece at the front end thereof; folding the first and second tabs over the first major face of the first piece; folding lengths of the sides of the first piece over the second major face of the first piece so as to form opposing ways; providing a second piece of sheet stock having a front end, a rear end and opposing sides; slidably disposing the opposing sides of the second piece into the opposing ways of the first piece; attaching a first locking element to the first tab and to an opposing portion of the first piece in working opposition to one of the sides of the second piece; and attaching a second locking element to the second tab and to an opposing portion of the first piece in working opposition to the other of the sides of the second piece.
  • 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of attaching the first locking element to the first tab and to the opposing portion of the first piece in working opposition to one of the sides of the second piece further includes the step of threadably attaching the first locking element to the first tab and to the opposing portion of the first piece in working opposition to the one of the sides of the second piece.
  • 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of attaching the second locking element to the second tab and to the opposing portion of the first piece in working opposition to the other of the sides of the second piece further includes the step of threadably attaching the second locking element to the second tab and to the opposing portion of the first piece in working opposition to the other of the sides of the second piece.
  • 13. A measuring device constructed by the method of claim 10.
  • 14. A method comprising steps of:providing a first piece of malleable sheet stock having a front end, a rear end, opposing first and second sides and opposing first and second major faces; folding lengths of the sides of the first piece over the second major face of the first piece so as to form opposing ways; providing a second piece of sheet stock having a front end, a rear end and opposing sides; slidably disposing the opposing sides of the second piece into the opposing ways of the first piece; attaching a first locking element to the base in working opposition to one of the sides of the second piece; and attaching a second locking element to the base in working opposition to the other of the sides of the second piece.
  • 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of attaching the first locking element to the base in working opposition to one of the sides of the second piece further includes steps of:forming a first tab into the first side of the first piece at the front end thereof; folding the first tab over the first major face of the first piece; and adjustably attaching the first locking element to the first tab and to an opposing portion of the first piece in working opposition to the one of the sides of the second piece.
  • 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of attaching the second locking element to the base in working opposition to the other of the sides of the second piece further include steps of:forming a second tab into the second side of the first piece at the front end thereof; folding the second tab over the first major face of the first piece; and adjustably attaching the second locking element to the second tab and to an opposing portion of the first piece in working opposition to the other of the sides of the second piece.
  • 17. A measuring device constructed by the method of claim 13.
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