Tile clip for wall panel system

Abstract

A tile clip for use in supporting a tile of a wall panel system. The wall panel system includes a plurality of wall panels that each include a support frame and one or a pair of tiles. The support frame includes a series of spaced attachment slots formed in the vertical posts of the frame. One or more tile clips can be installed on each of the vertical posts by inserting the tile clip into one of the attachment slots. The tile clip includes a base and a perpendicular end wall that includes an engagement lip. An attachment arm of the tile clip flexes to initially receive a side wall of the vertical post and holds the tile clip in place along the vertical post. The engagement lip contacts one edge of the tile to hold the tile in place on the vertical post.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A tile clip for use in retaining a tile on a support frame of a wall panel, the tile clip comprising:
 a base extending between a first end and a second end and having first and second sides;   an end wall integrally formed with the base and extending from the second end of the base to an outer end;   an engagement tip extending from outer end of the end wall;   an attachment arm extending from the base in a direction opposite the end wall, wherein the attachment arm is configured to engage the support frame of the wall panel to securely hold the tile clip on the support frame.   
     
     
         2 . The tile clip of  claim 1  wherein the end wall extends perpendicular from the base and the engagement tip extends from the end wall toward the first end of the base. 
     
     
         3 . The tile clip of  claim 1  wherein the tile clip is formed from a plastic material. 
     
     
         4 . The tile clip of  claim 3  wherein the plastic material is clear. 
     
     
         5 . The tile clip of  claim 1  wherein the attachment arm includes a body that extends between a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the base and the second end is spaced from the base. 
     
     
         6 . The tile clip of  claim 5  wherein attachment of the body to the base is flexible to allow a spacing between the second end and the base to change. 
     
     
         7 . The tile clip of  claim 5  wherein the base includes a central opening aligned with the attachment arm such that the attachment arm extends into the central opening when the tile clip is not installed on the support frame of the wall panel. 
     
     
         8 . A wall panel for use as part of a wall panel system, the wall panel comprising:
 a support frame including a pair of vertical posts;   at least one tile configured extend between the pair of spaced vertical posts; and   a plurality of tile clips each received on one of the vertical posts, wherein each of the tile clips engages an edge of the at least one tile to hold the tile in contact with the support frame.   
     
     
         9 . The wall panel of  claim 8  wherein each of the tile clips comprises:
 a base extending between a first end and a second end and having first and second sides; 
 an end wall integrally formed with the base and extending from the second end of the base to an outer end; 
 an engagement tip extending from outer end of the end wall; 
 an attachment arm extending from the base in a direction opposite the end wall, wherein the attachment arm is received in a receiving slot formed in the vertical post to securely hold the tile clip on the frame. 
 
     
     
         10 . The wall panel of  claim 9  wherein each of the vertical posts includes a plurality of spaced receiving slots each sized to receive the attachment arm of the tile clip. 
     
     
         11 . The wall panel of  claim 9  wherein the end wall of the tile clip extends perpendicular from the base and the engagement tip extends from the end wall toward the first end of the base. 
     
     
         12 . The wall panel of  claim 8  wherein the tile clips are formed from a plastic material. 
     
     
         13 . The wall panel of  claim 12  wherein the plastic material is clear. 
     
     
         14 . The wall panel of  claim 9  wherein the attachment arm of each tile clip includes a body that extends between a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the base and the second end is spaced from the base. 
     
     
         15 . The wall panel of  claim 14  wherein the attachment of the body to the base is flexible to allow the spacing between the second end and the base to change and receive the vertical post. 
     
     
         16 . The wall panel of  claim 15  wherein the base includes a central opening aligned with the attachment arm such that the attachment arm extends into the central opening when the tile clip is not installed on the frame of the wall panel. 
     
     
         17 . A method of attaching a tile to a support frame of a wall panel that includes a pair of spaced vertical posts, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of tile clips each including a base extending between a first end and a second end, an end wall integrally formed with the base and extending from the second end of the base to an outer end, an engagement tip extending from outer end of the end wall and an attachment arm extending from the base in a direction opposite the end wall;   inserting each of the plurality of tile clips into one of a plurality of receiving slots formed in each of the pair of vertical posts; and   positioning the tile between the pair of vertical posts such that the engagement tip of each of the plurality of tiles engages an edge of the tile to hold the tile in place between the pair of vertical posts.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein when the tile clip is inserted into one of the receiving slots, the attachment arm of the tile clip entraps a wall of the support post between the attachment arm and the base of the tile clip. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein at least two tile clips are installed on each of the pair of spaced vertical posts. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein a bottom edge of the tile is supported on the support frame and the tile is rotated upward such that side edges of the panel contact the engagement tip and the end wall flexes outward to receive the side edges of the panel.