US 5,390,457 · Granted 1995-02-21
The Hidden Clip That Holds Bathroom Tiles in Place
This patent describes a metal rail system that hangs on your wall and holds decorative face tiles in place without visible fasteners. Small hooks along the rail support each tile, and a flexible lip underneath each hook grabs the tile above it to prevent it from sliding upward—kind of like a safety catch.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers an elongated profile member mounted vertically on a building wall, equipped with regularly spaced support hooks and a spring-loaded retaining lip beneath each hook. What's protected here is the specific design where the flexible lip projects forward when relaxed and overlaps the edge of the tile sitting on the hook below it, mechanically locking it in place. Anyone manufacturing a tile-hanging system using this hook-and-lip architecture would potentially infringe on the patent.
Why it matters
This patent addresses a practical problem in tile installation: how to hang decorative tiles securely without visible bolts, screws, or adhesive that would ruin the finish. By using a mechanical catch system rather than permanent bonding, tiles become replaceable and repositionable—useful for renovation, maintenance, or design changes. The invention simplifies installation for builders and contractors while giving end users more flexibility.
Real-world use
When you run your hand behind a subway-style tile wall in a modern bathroom or kitchen backsplash, you're likely touching the rail system and clips this patent describes.
Original USPTO abstract
A mounting member for mounting face tiles on a building wall comprises an elongate profile member (11) adapted to be secured in vertical position on the building wall and having longitudinally spaced support hooks (17), each adapted to support a face tile. A resiliently displaceable retaining lip (10) is provided beneath such support hook (17). When in relieved condition, the retaining lip (19, 119, 219) projects forwardly from a tile backing plane (16) defined by the profile member so as to overlie a face tile supported by the next underlying support hook (17) and thereby prevent upward displacement of the face tile.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 5,390,457
- Filing date
- 1993-05-05
- Grant date
- 1995-02-21
- Assignee
- Sjoelander; Oliver
- Inventor(s)
- SJOELANDER; OLIVER
- CPC class
- E04F13/0803
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