Wedge system with friction isolation plates

Abstract

The system includes receivers and wedges. Each receiver has a base and a perpendicularly-extending hook having an aperture. Each hook is disposed as a spacer between a pair of tiles in an array laid in bedding, to provide for side-by-side tile spacing. The base is disposed beneath the pair. Each wedge has a clamping surface and a ribbed gripping surface orientated angularly thereto. Each wedge extends through the aperture such that: the pair is captured between the base and wedge, with the clamping surface disposed in coplanar relation to the pair; the gripping surface grips the receiver, to resist wedge withdrawal and maintain the clamped engagement until the bedding has cured. The gripping surface width is less than the wedge width. The hook has a wall that defines one edge of aperture, is opposite to and presents towards the planar element in perpendicular relation. The wall fits between the ribs.

1 . An improved wedge system of the type used with tiles and a bedding material such as mortar or adhesive for creating a tiled surface having an array of the tiles arranged in substantially coplanar side-by-side evenly spaced relation
 the wedge system being of the type including   wedge receivers, each having a substantially planar base element and a resilient hook element extending from the base element in substantially perpendicular relation, the hook element having an aperture defined therein, each hook element, in use, being disposed in the manner of a tile spacer between a pair of adjacent tiles in an array of the tiles laid in the bedding material, thereby to provide for said substantially even side-by-side spacing of the tiles and the base element, in use, being disposed beneath the pair of adjacent tiles; and   wedges, each having a clamping surface and a ribbed gripping surface orientated in angular relation to one another, each wedge, in use, extending through the aperture of a respective receiver such that:
 the pair of adjacent tiles are captured between the base element and the wedge, with the clamping surface of the wedge disposed in coplanar relation to the pair of adjacent tiles; 
 the gripping surface grips the respective wedge receiver, to resist withdrawal of the wedge from the aperture and maintain the clamped engagement until the bedding material has cured, 
   wherein the improvement comprises:   the gripping surface of the wedge having a width less than the width of the wedge; and   the hook element having a wall that defines one edge of the aperture and is disposed opposite to and presents towards the planar element in perpendicular relation, the wall being sized to fit between the ribs.   
     
     
         2 . The wedge system of  claim 1 , wherein the ribs are arcuate. 
     
     
         3 . The wedge system of  claim 1 , wherein the wall tapers in width as it extends away from the base portion. 
     
     
         4 . The wedge system of  claim 1 , wherein the wedge, when sectioned perpendicular to the clamping surface, has a profile which terminates in a portion that has the shape of the wall. 
     
     
         5 . The wedge system of  claim 1 , further comprising slider plates, each slider plate being planar and having a slot adapted to permit through passage of a hook.