Tile holding system

Abstract

A tile holding system is provided. The tile holding system includes a tray base, a tray, and a cover. The tray base includes four side sections connected to form a rectangular shape. The tray base further includes a plurality of flanges connected to one or more of the four side sections. The tray includes four side pieces connected to form the rectangular shape. The tray further includes a collar connected to the four side pieces. The collar is configured to enclose a tile. The tray further includes a support plate enclosed by the collar. The tray is configured to be placed on the tray base. The cover has four side components connected to form the rectangular shape and is configured to cover the tray base and the tray.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tile holding system comprising:
 a tray base tray base including:
 four side sections connected to form a rectangular shape; and 
 a plurality of flanges connected to one or more of the four side sections; 
   a tray including:
 four side pieces connected to form the rectangular shape; 
 a collar connected to the four side pieces, the collar being configured to enclose a tile; and 
 a support plate enclosed by the collar; 
 wherein the tray is configured to be placed on the tray base; and 
   a cover having four side components connected to form the rectangular shape, the cover being configured to cover the tray base and the tray.   
     
     
         2 . The tile holding system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flanges are perpendicular with respect to the one or more of the four side sections. 
     
     
         3 . The tile holding system of  claim 1 , wherein the four side sections of the tray base have a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         4 . The tile holding system of  claim 1 , wherein the four side components of the cover have a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The tile holding system of  claim 1 , wherein the support plate extends for a predefined distance beyond the four side pieces of the tray. 
     
     
         6 . The tile holding system of  claim 1 , wherein the support plate has a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         7 . The tile holding system of  claim 6 , wherein, when the tray is placed on the tray base, the plurality of openings in the support plate of the tray being configured to accommodate sand. 
     
     
         8 . The tile holding system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of flanges have at least one opening for inserting a fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The tile holding system of  claim 8 , wherein the tray base is configured to be attached to a floor by:
 inserting the fastener into the at least one opening in the one or more of the plurality of flanges; and   attaching the fastener to the floor.   
     
     
         10 . The tile holding system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the four side sections of the tray base have at least one opening for inserting a fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The tile holding system of  claim 10 , wherein the support plate of the tray has at least one opening for inserting the fastener. 
     
     
         12 . The tile holding system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more of the four side components of the cover have at least one opening for inserting the fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The tile holding system of  claim 12 , wherein, when the cover covers the tray, the at least one opening of the cover is positioned over the at least one opening of the tray, and the at least one opening of the tray is positioned over the at least one opening of the tray base. 
     
     
         14 . The tile holding system of  claim 1 , wherein the tray is configured to release the tile enclosed in the tray, and the tile is replaceable. 
     
     
         15 . The tile holding system of  claim 1 , wherein the tray base, the tray, and the cover are configured to be installed on a horizontal surface. 
     
     
         16 . A vertical tile holding system comprising:
 a tray base including:
 four side sections connected to form a rectangular shape; and 
 a plurality of flanges connected to one or more of the four side sections; 
   a tray including:
 four side pieces connected to form the rectangular shape; 
 a collar connected to the four side pieces, the collar being configured to enclose a tile; and 
 a support plate enclosed by the collar; 
 wherein the tray is configured to be placed on the tray base; and 
   a cover having four side components connected to form the rectangular shape, the cover being configured to cover the tray base and the tray;   wherein the tray base, the tray, and the cover are configured to be installed on a vertical surface.   
     
     
         17 . The vertical tile holding system of  claim 16 , wherein one or more of the plurality of flanges have at least one opening for inserting a fastener. 
     
     
         18 . The vertical tile holding system of  claim 17 , wherein the tray base is configured to be attached to the vertical surface by:
 inserting the fastener into the at least one opening in the one or more of the plurality of flanges; and   attaching the fastener to the vertical surface.   
     
     
         19 . The vertical tile holding system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of flanges are perpendicular to one or more of the four side sections. 
     
     
         20 . A horizontal tile holding system comprising:
 a tray base including:
 four side sections connected to form a rectangular shape; and 
 a plurality of flanges connected to one or more of the four side sections; 
   a tray including:
 four side pieces connected to form the rectangular shape; 
 a collar connected to the four side pieces, the collar being configured to enclose a tile; 
 a support plate enclosed by the collar; and 
 wherein the tray is configured to be placed on the tray base; and 
   a cover having four side components connected to form the rectangular shape, the cover being configured to cover the tray base and the tray,   wherein the tray base, the tray, and the cover are configured to be installed on a horizontal surface.