Tile board for constructing ceramic tile sheets

Claim 1

A device for aligning a plurality of ceramic tiles to facilitate the application of adhesive grout between adjacent tiles, comprising: a generally rectangular backer board having at least four edges, an upper surface and a lower surface, said backer board having a channel in it, said channel having a first width along said upper surface, and a second width along the lower surface of said backer board; and lip means extending above at least three of said edges, said lip means including: a stationary retaining means attached to two adjacent edges of said backer board; and manipulative means movably mounted to said backer board along a third edge, said manipulative means comprising a straight edge part, a follower movable in one of said first and said second width portions of said channel, and a hand grip movable in the other of said first and said second width portions, and means for biasing said straight edge part against said third edge of said backer board, said biasing means comprising a pair of springs mounted between said manipulative means and said backer board.

Claim 2

A device for aligning a plurality of ceramic tiles to facilitate the application of adhesive grout between adjacent tiles, comprising: a generally rectangular backer board having at least four edges, an upper surface and a lower surface, said backer board having a channel in it, said channel having a first width along said upper surface, and a second width along the lower surface of said backer board; and lip means extending above at least three of said edges, said lip means including: a stationary retaining means attached to two adjacent edges of said backer board; and manipulative means movably mounted to said backer board along a third edge, said manipulative means comprising a straight edge part, a follower movable in one of said first and said second width portions of said channel, and a hand grip movable in the other of said first and said second width portions, and means for biasing said straight edge part against said third edge of said backer board, said biasing means comprising a pair of springs mounted between said manipulative means and said backer board.

Claim 3

A device for aligning ceramic tiles to facilitate their formation into an integral sheet comprising: a generally flat backer board having four edges and generally upper and lower parallelogram surfaces bounded by said edges, said backer board having a channel formed in it, said channel having a first width on the upper surface of said backer board, and a second width on the lower surface of said backer board; a pair of stationary parts attached to two adjacent edges of said backer board, each of said stationary parts extending above the outer boundary of said upper surface; and a part movably mounted to said backer board along a third edge, said movably mounted part including a straight edge portion and manipulative means for facilitating movement of said straight edge portion, said manipulative means including a hand grip movable in said second width portion of said channel, and a follower movable in said first width portion of said channel, said hand grip and said follower being joined to one another and to said straight edge portion, and means for biasing said straight edge portion against an edge of said backer board, said straight edge portion and said stationary parts forming a lip above the outer boundary of the upper surface on at least three sides of said backer board.

Claim 4

A device for aligning ceramic tiles to facilitate their formation into an integral sheet comprising: a generally flat backer board having four edges and generally upper and lower parallelogram surfaces bounded by said edges, said backer board having a channel formed in it, said channel having a first width on the upper surface of said backer board, and a second width on the lower surface of said backer board; a pair of stationary parts attached to two adjacent edges of said backer board, each of said stationary parts extending above the outer boundary of said upper surface; and a part movably mounted to said backer board along a third edge, said movably mounted part including a straight edge portion and manipulative means for facilitating movement of said straight edge portion, said manipulative means including a hand grip movable in said second width portion of said channel, and a follower movable in said first width portion of said channel, said hand grip and said follower being joined to one another and to said straight edge portion, and means for biasing said straight edge portion against an edge of said backer board, said straight edge portion and said stationary parts forming a lip above the outer boundary of the upper surface on at least three sides of said backer board.

Claim 5

A device for aligning a plurality of tiles to facilitate their formation into an integral sheet comprising: a generally flat backer board having at least four edges, an upper surface and a lower surface, said backer board having a channel formed in it, said channel having a first width along the upper surface and a second width along the lower surface of said backer board; a pair of stationary parts attached to two adjacent edges of said backer board, each of said stationary parts extending above the outer boundary of said upper surface; and a part movably mounted to said backer board along a third edge thereof, said movably mounted part including a straight edge portion and manipulative means for facilitating movement of said straight edge portion, said manipulative means including a hand grip movable in one of said first and said second width portions of said channel, and a follower movable in the other of said first and said second width portions of said channel, said hand grip and said follower being joined to one another and to said straight edge portion, and means for biasing said straight edge portion against an edge of said backer board, said straight edge and said stationary parts forming a lip above the outer boundary of said upper surface on at least three sides of said backer board.

Claim 6

A device for aligning a plurality of tiles to facilitate their formation into an integral sheet comprising: a generally flat backer board having at least four edges, an upper surface and a lower surface, said backer board having a channel formed in it, said channel having a first width along the upper surface and a second width along the lower surface of said backer board; a pair of stationary parts attached to two adjacent edges of said backer board, each of said stationary parts extending above the outer boundary of said upper surface; and a part movably mounted to said backer board along a third edge thereof, said movably mounted part including a straight edge portion and manipulative means for facilitating movement of said straight edge portion, said manipulative means including a hand grip movable in one of said first and said second width portions of said channel, and a follower movable in the other of said first and said second width portions of said channel, said hand grip and said follower being joined to one another and to said straight edge portion, and means for biasing said straight edge portion against an edge of said backer board, said straight edge and said stationary parts forming a lip above the outer boundary of said upper surface on at least three sides of said backer board.