Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Ornamental: color – thickness variation – or dissimilar... – Facer formed to simulate multiple units
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-25
2001-12-18
Purol, David M. (Department: 3634)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Ornamental: color, thickness variation, or dissimilar...
Facer formed to simulate multiple units
C052S389000, C052S391000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330774
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the installation of tiles on walls, floors and counter surfaces.
2. Background
At the present time, most tile installations are performed on site, requiring skilled, experienced professionals. In addition to being costly and time consuming, the installation involves the use of many materials, usually leaving a mess to be cleared up.
Over the past few decades a number of inventive tiling approaches have been offered to reduce the cost, installation time and subsequent mess incurred when tiled areas are required. These approaches have centered on the needs of kitchen and bathroom tiling as for example, does U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,488 by Markham which describes a prefabricated tiled counter. Yet others describe only some particular parts of tiled installations. U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,005 by Han describes a prefabricated tile panel which is illustrated as used to install tiled shower walls or a counter top. The Han panel art does not address the critical issue of proper joining of adjacent panels, nor does it address the setting of the tiles per panel to conform to the adjacent panels, but rather shows every panel in the same tile configuration. It is not apparent how the Han panels can be used to install a continuing non standard size, shape or variable tile design pattern over any given surface area that extends beyond one panel in any direction.
None of the prior or current art tiling methods and approaches provide any guidance for the installation of large area tiled surfaces, including designs or tiles of varying sizes. To install such a tiled array continues to require skilled hand installation, tile by tile at the site. Further, many of the modular type tiling innovations such as use of pretiled panels, have not been adopted by the building industry or by do-it-yourself homeowners for reasons including inherent installation defects, high required skill levels for installation or cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A system is described that comprises a plurality of prefabricated tiled panels for installation on walls, floors and counters, for both interior or exterior use. The panels are sized and designed each to include a particular segment of the overall tiled array. Thus, when all the panels are installed in a previously laid out configuration and the installation is completed by taping panel joints and addition of omitted tiles, the tiled installation will display the entire design without unsightly breaks. Provision is made for fastening the panels to framing studs or to flat surfaces. The panel base is a single, simple flat member and can be fabricated from a selection of materials that do not require waterproofing. However, waterproofing can be added. Tiles of any size, flat shape or material type can be adhered to a panel.
Since the panels contain no inserted metal layers, it is possible to cut any panels to fit the installation on site using only a skill saw with a carborundum blade or a tile saw.
The tiled panel system benefits builders and homeowners, because it incorporates good quality control due to the controlled manufacturing of the panels, it is relatively low in cost and is very practical to install, requiring substantially less skill than that required for present day on site tiling and would lend itself to an average do-it-yourself person.
Accordingly, embodiments of the invention can provide a prefabricated tiled panel system and method that can be used to install any size or shape tiled surface on any flat surface or on framing studs, as well as to install standard type tiled surfaces such as shower walls. Compared with existing systems and methods, embodiments of the invention can be implemented at considerably lower cost with the further advantage of increased versatility in installing a wide range of tiled designs and applications for construction interior and exterior surfaces and units.
Further advantages of the invention will be apparent from studying the specification, the claims and the attached drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1827053 (1931-10-01), Veneman
patent: 1926257 (1933-09-01), Bawtwnheimer
patent: 2592244 (1952-04-01), Chamberlain
patent: 3350827 (1967-11-01), Sugar
patent: 4771488 (1988-09-01), Markham
patent: 4920716 (1990-05-01), Coffey
patent: 5722746 (1998-03-01), Hull et al.
patent: 5816005 (1998-10-01), Han
patent: 2 003 419 A (1979-03-01), None
Fulwider Patton Lee & Utecht LLP
Purol David M.
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