DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The field pertaining to the invention

This invention refers to a device for laying and leveling ceramic tiles, which facilitates and accelerates the laying of ceramic tiles or any other plate-like materials on a flat surface.

Technical problem

When laying ceramic tiles on a flat surface of a floor or wall, it is necessary to take into account that the tiles are laid in a coplanar manner in relation to each other and that spaces (grout joints) between the tiles are even. In addition, it is important that the ends of tiles are laid at a preferred angle in respect to one another, most commonly at a right angle.

To wit, all the above-mentioned is difficult to obtain given that tiles are laid on a fresh adhesive, which remains active until drying. Due to this, tiles being fixed with the leveling device can shift and lose planarity in respect to the flat surface on which they are being laid (or proper angling in relation to other tiles).

When using different devices for leveling tiles, the following problems arise. Some devices hold tiles well and stably, but are difficult to remove, which leads to a great consumption of time when removing the leveling device. Some devices are easily removed after the adhesive has dried, for instance, with a simple strike to the leveling device. However, given that the device cap is screwed on the threaded shaft on such devices, and are thus removed from the tiles together, it is necessary, after removal from the tiles, to unscrew each device cap separately from the threaded shaft, which requires additional time to be consumed so that the device can be reused for the laying of tiles.

With other devices, the problem of tiles sliding exists. With the rotation of the device cap around the shaft, so that all tiles become coplanar, the cap presses the tiles and the tiles slide on the fresh adhesive, which makes the laying of tiles at the same angle in relation to one another difficult and increases the time needed to lay tiles, which is certainly to be avoided.

Accordingly, there is a need for a device for leveling tiles that would enable the quick and precise laying of tiles in a simple way, and where the device for leveling would, after the adhesive has dried, be easily removed and reused for a subsequent laying of tiles or any other plate-like materials.

State of the art

There are numerous solutions in the state of the art for the laying and leveling of tiles and any other plate-like materials. Many of them affix the upper portion (cap, knob) to a device base via a thread and in that way secure the horizontal/vertical uniformity of laid tiles.

European application EP2921609 describes a mechanism of locking the cap of the device for leveling, in which leveling is obtained by a quick leaning of the device for leveling against the tiles followed by tightening, and which is easily removed after use. Namely, the invention has a base with a shaft, two leveling portions, which when connected, hold the shaft of the base in place, i.e. the tiles in a certain position. The problem of this device for leveling is that when the upper portion of the leveling device is pressed into the lower portion, which consists of two portions that are on that occasion connected, it moves the tiles that are below the leveling device, resulting in the sliding of tiles.

European patent EP2573296, which is protected in Croatia under number P20150191 , protects a device for leveling with precisely defined critical points of a base and a threaded stem. The invention comprises a base with spacing protrusions, a threaded stem and a cap containing the external threaded portion. The invention is characterized in that apart from the central critical point of the threaded stem, it also contains critical points on the hinge connection between the spacing protrusion and the fin of threaded stem.

International application WO2009022359 describes a device for leveling comprising a base with a threaded stem and a knot comprising threaded holes and screws, by which the knot is affixed to the threaded stem.

US 2006185269 protects a device for leveling comprising a shaft having an upper portion and a lower portion, a bottom plate combined with the lower portion of the shaft; a top plate having an opening, which is adapted to receive the shaft, said top plate having an upper side and a lower side; and a locking assembly having an opening adapted to receive the shaft.

EP 2432951 describes a device for leveling having a base with a shaft and a locking assembly comprising at least one tongue for locking, which falls into dents on the shaft and in that way it locks in the leveling position.

US 2015211243 describes a device for leveling having a base, a stem comprising spacing protrusions and a device for leveling, which by contracting affixes tiles to the base and in that way levels them. From the drawing, it is visible that the device for leveling has open portions, through which it becomes visible whether the tile is laid well in relation to other tiles.

US 2016108627 protects a leveling device comprising a plate connected with a shaft, a locking assembly comprising a flexible part that is movable from a compressed position into a retracted position and from a securing mechanism, which allows the locking assembly to move in one direction along the shaft but not in the opposite direction along the shaft.

EP2966238 describes a leveling device in which the knob for locking has quite a complicated way of locking involving threads. The device for leveling comprises a base, a threaded shaft and a plate interposed between the threaded shaft and which is fixed to tiles by means of a fixing device comprising a body with an internal thread embodied to comprise two separate threaded parts whereby at least one of the threaded parts being movable along the movement axis (Y, Y1 ) relative to the other part in order to vary the extent of the seat, and wherein the fixing device has actuators for moving at least one threaded part to open/close the seat.

EP2549030 describes a leveling device having a thread and an upper cap, which by screwing on the threaded shaft, fixes the tiles.

Even though the mentioned state of the art attempts to resolve different problems arising from the implementation and application of leveling devices, not a single one resolves the problems of quick laying against tiles, moving/sliding of tiles when fixing the device for leveling the tiles, easy release after drying of the adhesive and quick separation of the threaded base from the leveling device and the simplicity of using the device and assistance during the laying of tiles at the same specified distance and at specified angles.

Disclosure of the invention

The subject invention relates to a device for laying and leveling tiles and any other plate-like materials, said device comprising:

a base that is situated below the tiles;

a shaft, which is vertically connected to the base by a weakened connection which can be easily separated;

a brim placed on the shaft, where the lower portion of brim, which lays against the tiles, is straight and aligns the tiles in a coplanar manner in relation to the flat surface on which the tiles are being laid and maintains the planarity;

a cap, which is placed on the upper portion of the brim and presses the lower portion of the brim on the tiles, where the cap is connected with the shaft by a releasable connection. In this way, the brim that maintains the tiles' properly placed position does not move (turn, twist) due to the pressing and fixing forces exerted by the leveling device on the tiles, since the shaft of the base and the cap of the device are connected without any direct influence on the brim. When laying the tiles, the brim is pressed on the tiles by the cap and when the same is laid against the tiles, only a connection between the cap and the shaft is achieved, while the brim remains stationary on the tiles. In that way, the rotation of the brim on the tiles and the movement of tiles or any other plate- like materials is prevented.

It is desirable that the base and cap are connected by a thread. In that case, it is desirable that the cap has an internal thread in its internal portion, which is severed by a slit at one or more points so that it would not be able to receive the threaded shaft when in an inactive state. In that case, the inner potion of the brim is fabricated in the shape of a cone tapering downwards, towards the horizontal portion of the lower portion of the brim, which lays on the tiles. By laying the cap on the brim, the inner portion of the cap with a severed inner thread enters the cone of the brim and in that way, forces the severed thread to narrow and embed the external thread of the shaft. Such an embodiment of the invention results in the fixing of the cap onto the threaded shaft with a brief twist of the cap, given that the inner thread of the cap is formed only after the cap, together with the brim, have already pressed the tiles and when the inner portion of the cap, under the force of pressure, has entered the conical portion of the brim which narrowed/closed the thread at the slits and enabled the cap to grip the threads of the shaft. At the same time, by screwing the cap, the shaft is tightened in the inner portion of the cap and additional pressure is placed on the brim, which presses the tiles, but the brim does not rotate due to the fact that it is not screwed onto the shaft. Therefore, rotation of the brim directly on the tiles or movement of the tiles does not occur.

The principle of operation of the above-mentioned desired embodiment of the invention is as follows. When inactive, the cap of the leveling device is found on the brim but in the manner that the inner thread of the cap is not in the cone of brim and the entire device for leveling can be freely fixed onto the screw without any snagging. By pressing the cap downwards, the threaded portion of the shaft is quickly received by means of the cone's brim and a full circle of the inner thread in the inner potion of the cap is realized, which is then of a necessary diameter in order to receive the threaded shaft. In this position, the cap of the leveling device can grip the threaded portion of the shaft, which enables the brim to exert the necessary force onto the tiles.

Releasing the leveling device is executed by twisting the cap counterclockwise, whereby operation of the leveling device is ceased, that is, of the brim, by compression force on the tiles. At that moment, the cap is moved away from the brim and the exertion of the brim's cone ceases to act on the narrowing of the cap's thread diameter and the thread portion opens. Sides that are opened thusly do not have the possibility of actualizing the threaded connection between the threaded portion of the shaft and the cap thread and the cap thread portion is freely released from the threaded shaft.

It is desirable that one or more protrusions are placed on the lower side of the brim, more precisely, on the lower side of the edges of brim. Such protrusions determine the thickness of the space between the tiles with their width. Furthermore, it is desirable that above the thusly placed protrusions, and on the outer surface of the brim, next to the edge of the brim that lays against the tiles, direction arrows are placed. In such an embodiment of the invention and when laying tiles, the cap is twisted while the brim with protrusions for spaces lays against the tiles in such a position that the protrusions determine the width of the spacing between the tiles whereas the arrows determine the direction of the grout joint. By using the subject invention in this embodiment, sliding of the tiles does not occur and the position and width of the grout joints are precisely shown when laying tiles. In that way, the device for laying tiles can very easily determine one grout joint width between all tiles being laid and when laying the tiles, can take into account the direction in which protrusions have been placed, i.e. places for grout joints. In such cases, when the width and shape of grout joints are determined by the brim, the base and shaft of the leveling device do not need to have parts that determine the spacing and arrangement of the laying of the tiles. In the case when three or four protrusions that determine the width of the grout joint are found on the brim, it is important that this such brim correctly falls into the base shaft and that the protrusions fall precisely into the place for grout joints. In order to facilitate this, it is desirable that the flat portion of the shaft contains a slit that expands to under the round portion of the shaft

perpendicular to the base, and which would visually facilitate the placement of the base between the grout joints. In that case, it is desirable that at the ends of the base, perpendicular from its flat portion, one or more protrusions are found, which would be used to immediately place the base between the grout joints.

It is desirable that the weakened connection between the base and shaft of the leveling device is implemented with a perforation on at least one point of the mentioned connection. Furthermore, it is desirable that the width of the base is 10 mm. It is desirable that the shaft is flat at a height from 20mm to 30mm from the connection with base so that the tiles could be laid without difficulties. Above the mentioned height, the shaft can become a rounded shape with the thread, which serves to connect it with the thread of the cap of the device.

Furthermore, it is desirable to place a marking on the top of shaft that designates the direction in which the flat portion of the shaft is to be found. Such a marking would be relevant during operation so that the device for leveling could be removed easier with a strike in a specific direction in relation to the flat portion of the shaft, in particular when the shaft is of a cylindrical shape. Such a solution enables quicker operation when mounting tiles, and after the removal of the device for laying and leveling tiles, the freed threaded portion of the shaft is quickly removed from the leveling device.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the brim has one or more openings on the outer surface of the brim, through which the grout joint in the middle of device for laying and leveling the tiles (device for leveling) is visible. The brim can also be reinforced with one or more ribs on the inside of the brim. Those ribs can also serve during operation so that the flat portion of the shaft falls between them and they keep the shaft from turning under the tiles until the leveler tightens it.

Brief description of the drawings

Drawing 1a - shows the invention in its inactive state

Drawing 1 b - shows the invention in its inactive state, which has slits, protrusions and arrows on the brim

Drawing 2 - shows the cross section of the invention in its inactive state when the thread of cap has spread and can no longer receive the thread of the shaft

Drawings 3a and 3b - show the cross section of the invention in its active and inactive states Drawing 4 - shows the device with an opening and protrusion on the base shaft

A detailed description of at least one embodiment of the invention

At least one preferred embodiment of the subject invention will be described in the following text.

In this embodiment of the device of the subject invention, the cap (5) has an inner thread (8) in its inner portion (12), which is severed by a slit (9) at three points so that it cannot receive the outer thread of the shaft (10) in its inactive state. Furthermore, the inner portion of the brim (11 ) is realized in the shape of a cone, which tapers downwards, that is, towards the horizontal portion of the lower portion of the brim (6), which is laid against the tiles. In addition, on the lower side of the brim (6), more precisely on the lower side of the edges of the brim, four protrusions (13) are situated that are mutually separated at a 90 degree angle. In that manner, each of the protrusions (13) serve to determine the width of the space between the tiles and grout joints in all four directions of the laid tiles. Above each protrusion (13), on the outer surface of the brim, along the edge of the brim, arrows (14) are placed, which facilitate the laying of the tiles in the desired direction. In this embodiment of the invention, 4 openings (15) are located on the outer surface of the brim, which enable a view of the connection between the tiles, and is found under the portion of the tiles covered by the brim.

The device for laying tiles (1 ) is mounted in the manner that the base (2) with the shaft (3) is situated on the floor below the tiles. After the tiles are laid on the floor, the brim (4) with the cap (5) is placed on the shaft (3), in its inactive state. The brim (4) is placed onto the tiles so that it holds them at a straight angle and holds them parallel in relation to the surface on which they are to be laid. After the brim (4) is positioned in its place, the cap (5) is forced into the brim (4). By laying the cap (5) onto the brim (4), the inner portion of the cap (12) with a slit inner thread (8) enters into the cone (11 ) of the brim and in that way forces the slit thread (8) to narrow and encompass the outer thread on the shaft (10). Given that at the same time, the brim (4) does not turn, rotation or sliding of the brim (4) directly on the tiles does not occur.

List of referenced designations:

Device/leveling device 1

Base 2

Shaft 3

Brim 4

Cap 5

Lower portion of brim 6

Upper portion of brim 7

Inner thread 8

Slit/s on the inner thread 9

Outer thread or threaded shaft 10

Inner cone portion of brim 11

Inner portion of cap 12

Protrusions on brim 13

Arrows on brim 14

Openings on brim 15

Rib for intensifying the brim 16

Slit in the shaft 17

Protrusion on the base 18

Markings on the top of the shaft 19