GB2189188A - Tile cutter - Google Patents

Abstract

A tile cutter comprising upper and lower spaced parallel beams (1, 2) the upper beam (1) carrying a slidable handle (5) coupled to a tile cutting assembly (7) and the lower beam (2) having a flexible plate (10) secured thereto for supporting a tile to be cut. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tile cutter This invention relates to tile cutters.

According to the invention there is provided a tile cutter comprising upper and lower spaced parallel beams, the upper beam supporting a manually operable handle provided with a tile cutting wheel and the lower beam having a flexible tile supporting plate mounted thereon and secured thereto.

Preferably, the flexible plate extends throughout the length of the lower beam and the two beams are supported in end pieces preferably triangular and preferably of moulded plastics material.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with particular reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tile cutter; Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof; Figure 3 is an end elevation of the handle; Figure 4 is an end elevation, partly in section of the upper beam carrying the handle and cutting wheel; Figure 5 is an end view partly in section of the lower beam with a flexible plate secured thereto, and Figure 6 is a plan view of the flexible plate.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, upper and lower beams 1,2, respectively are arranged in parallel spaced relationship and mounted in end pieces 3,4, of triangular form and prefera biy formed of moulded plastics material. The upper beam 1 carries the manually operable handle 5 which is slidable with respect to the beam and provided at one end thereof with gripping means 6 and at the other end with a cutter wheel assembly 7 in which the tungsten carbide cutting wheel 8 is mounted.

The lower beam 2 has secured thereto by rivets 9 (Fig. 5) a flexible plate 10 on which a tile to be cut is placed. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the plate 10 is provided with spaced longitudinal ribs 11 to provide greater flexibility thereby inhibiting the tile from chipping when severed by the cutting wheel. As shown in Fig. 5, the flexible plate 10 has a slight dihedral to improve the flexibility of the plate.

The tile cutter of the present invention has several advantages over existing tile cutters viz. ease of manufacture and reduced cost of manufacture and the ability of the plate to flex prevents the tile from chipping when pressure is applied thereto by the handle and cutting assembly during severance.

It will be appreciated that the invention has been described by way of example only and is not deemed limited to the particular details shown in the accompanying drawings.

1. A tile cutter comprising upper and lower spaced parallel beams, the upper beam supporting a manually operable handle provided with a tile cutting wheel and the lower beam having a flexible tile supporting plate mounted thereon and secured thereto.

2. A tile cutter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flexible plate extends throughout the length of the lower beam and the two beams are supported in end pieces.

3. A tile cutter as claimed in claim 2 wherein the end pieces are triangular.

4. A tile cutter as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the end pieces are of moulded plastics material.

5. A tile cutter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Tile cutter This invention relates to tile cutters. According to the invention there is provided a tile cutter comprising upper and lower spaced parallel beams, the upper beam supporting a manually operable handle provided with a tile cutting wheel and the lower beam having a flexible tile supporting plate mounted thereon and secured thereto. Preferably, the flexible plate extends throughout the length of the lower beam and the two beams are supported in end pieces preferably triangular and preferably of moulded plastics material. The invention will now be described by way of example only with particular reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tile cutter; Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof; Figure 3 is an end elevation of the handle; Figure 4 is an end elevation, partly in section of the upper beam carrying the handle and cutting wheel; Figure 5 is an end view partly in section of the lower beam with a flexible plate secured thereto, and Figure 6 is a plan view of the flexible plate. Referring particularly to Fig. 1, upper and lower beams 1,2, respectively are arranged in parallel spaced relationship and mounted in end pieces 3,4, of triangular form and prefera biy formed of moulded plastics material. The upper beam 1 carries the manually operable handle 5 which is slidable with respect to the beam and provided at one end thereof with gripping means 6 and at the other end with a cutter wheel assembly 7 in which the tungsten carbide cutting wheel 8 is mounted. The lower beam 2 has secured thereto by rivets 9 (Fig. 5) a flexible plate 10 on which a tile to be cut is placed. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the plate 10 is provided with spaced longitudinal ribs 11 to provide greater flexibility thereby inhibiting the tile from chipping when severed by the cutting wheel. As shown in Fig. 5, the flexible plate 10 has a slight dihedral to improve the flexibility of the plate. The tile cutter of the present invention has several advantages over existing tile cutters viz. ease of manufacture and reduced cost of manufacture and the ability of the plate to flex prevents the tile from chipping when pressure is applied thereto by the handle and cutting assembly during severance. It will be appreciated that the invention has been described by way of example only and is not deemed limited to the particular details shown in the accompanying drawings. CLAIMS

1. A tile cutter comprising upper and lower spaced parallel beams, the upper beam supporting a manually operable handle provided with a tile cutting wheel and the lower beam having a flexible tile supporting plate mounted thereon and secured thereto.

2. A tile cutter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flexible plate extends throughout the length of the lower beam and the two beams are supported in end pieces.

3. A tile cutter as claimed in claim 2 wherein the end pieces are triangular.

4. A tile cutter as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the end pieces are of moulded plastics material.

5. A tile cutter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.