LEVELING DEVICE FOR TILES

Description

This invention generally refers to a leveling device for tiles. Namely a leveling device that is capable of bringing two or more tiles, with which it is placed in contact, to the same level.

It is well known that there are various types of tile leveling devices on the market designed to bring the upper surfaces of multiple tiles to the same level.

One type of leveling device involves the use of two separate parts coupled to one another, namely a support and a pressing element.

The support has a support base and a threaded elongated element that extends perpendicular from the base itself.

The pressing element has a base with a threaded hole that matches the elongated element.

The procedure for using leveling devices of this type requires the support base to be placed on the mortar and two or more tiles to be placed on top of it.

The pressing element is then coupled to the support by screwing the base onto the threading of the elongated element.

By screwing on the base, the pressing element is moved downward until the base makes contact with the tiles. By applying appropriate force to the rotation, the base brings the upper surfaces of the tiles, and therefore the same tiles with which it is making contact, to the same level.

Once the mortar has set and the tiles are affixed to the support base by the mortar itself, the elongated element and the pressing element connected to it are removed by forcing the breakage of the support, or rather by separating the elongated element from the support base, which will remain underneath the tiles permanently.

This breakage is generally facilitated by the presence of a pre-existing groove in the joint between the base and the elongated element.

The elongated element also can no longer be used once separated from the support base, thus making the support a so-called disposable element.

The pressing element, on the other hand, can be recovered by unscrewing it from the elongated element.

Leveling devices of this type pose certain problems, above all in terms of ease, speed and convenience of use.

In particular, one initial problem is linked to the time required to bring the pressing element into contact with the tiles.

In fact, the pressing element must be screwed onto the elongated element along its entire its length, even when the pressing element isn’t yet in contact with the tiles.

Considerable time is therefore required to use leveling devices of this type.

Another problem posed by leveling devices built according to the known technique described above is the time required to decouple the pressing element from the elongated element, in order to be able to reuse the pressing element itself.

The purpose of this invention is to create a leveling device that resolves these and other problems associated with the known systems.

Another purpose of this invention is to obtain a leveling device that can be used quickly and easily.

These and other purposes are all achieved, according to the invention, by a leveling device suitable to be used for laying and leveling at least two adjacent tiles on a flat surface. The leveling device includes a support designed to be secured to the bottom of the tiles and a pressing element. The pressing element is positioned above the tiles, and is designed to be bound in a mobile fashion to the support, and to come into contact and to exert pressure upon at least one of the two tiles with a contact surface.

The support includes a base, which is designed to be placed below the two adjacent tiles, and a threaded pin extending perpendicular to the base itself.

The pressing element includes a cylindrical part with a longitudinal central axis and a lateral external surface that the user is able to grip.

The cylindrical element contains a first jaw-shaped part and a second jawshaped part, between which the threaded pin can position itself when the support and the pressing element are coupled together.

The first jaw-shaped part contains a first threading element, and the second jaw-shaped contains a second threading element.

The first jaw-shaped part and the second jaw-shaped part are such that they can either be set to a first configuration, in which they are separated, or else to a second configuration, in which they are adjacent to one another, so that the first threading element and the second threading element come together to create a continuous thread, which matches that of the threaded pin.

In particular, in their resting positions, the first jaw-shaped part and the second jaw-shaped part are set to the first configuration, and they’re equipped with first coupling devices for moving the first jaw-shaped part and the second jawshaped part from the first configuration to the second configuration, and vice versa.

In this manner, the user can use the first coupling devices to set the first jaw- shaped part and the second jaw-shaped part to the second configuration, or rather adjacent to one another.

The continuous thread created by the first threading element and the second threading element is coupled with the threading on the threaded pin, upon which the pressing element can be screwed.

When the pressing element is screwed onto the threaded pin, or rather the support, the pressing element itself is lowered and is brought into contact with the tiles, thus leveling them.

The user can naturally use the first coupling devices to set the two jaw- shaped elements to the second configuration, as previously mentioned, as well as to set them to the first configuration, or rather their resting position, thus allowing the pressing element to move freely in relation to the support.

This first configuration is useful for moving the pressing element, into which the support has already been threaded, closer to the tiles, or else for quickly releasing the pressing element from the support’s threaded pin.

By simply using the first coupling devices, the leveling device built according to the invention essentially provides for a quick and easy way to couple and decouple the pressing element from the support, so that the pressing element itself is able to move without constraints in relation to the support, or else can be screwed on to it in order to easily exert uniform pressure upon the tiles to be leveled.

The first coupling devices may include a cover disc with a complex central opening.

The perimeter edge of this complex opening can be defined by a first arched edge and an second arched edge, arranged symmetrically in relation to the center of the complex opening itself, in which the distances between the points on the perimeter edge that are symmetrically opposite with respect to the center of the complex opening increase in a uniform manner from a minimum length to a maximum length, respectively equal to the size of cord D1 , which ideally connects the nearest ends of the first arched edge and the second arched edge, and the size of cord D2, perpendicular to cord D1 , which ideally connects the farthest ends of the first arched edge and the second arched edge.

The cover disc can be rotated in relation to the cylindrical element, and the first jaw-shaped part and second jaw-shaped part are designed to be positioned by passing through the complex opening.

As a result, since the complex opening does not have a regular circle shape, the user can simply rotate the cover disc one way or the other to move the two jaw- shaped parts from their first configuration to their second configuration, and vice versa.

Furthermore, the complex opening’s perimeter edge can be formed, in consecutive order, by the first arched edge, a first straight edge, the second arched edge, and a second straight edge, where the first straight edge and the second edge straight sit on the same line passing through the center of the complex opening.

The first straight edge and the second straight edge thus serve as the limit stop for the cover disc’s rotation.

Advantageously, the first jaw-shaped part can include a first slide-shaped protrusion and the second jaw-shaped part can include a second slide-shaped protrusion, with the first slide-shaped protrusion and the second slide-shaped protrusion facing outwards with respect to the cylindrical element’s longitudinal center axis.

Together with the elastic behavior of the two jaw-shaped parts, which tend to move towards their first configuration, these first and second slide-shaped protrusions prevent the cover disc from becoming easily disengaged from the cylindrical element.

Moreover, a first arched element and a second arched element of equal conformation, both having the shape of a ramp, can protrude from the cover disk, arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the complex opening. The first slide-shaped protrusion and the second slide-shaped protrusion are respectively designed to come into contact with the first arched element and the second arched element.

The ramp shape of the arched elements allows for the slide-shaped protrusions of the jaw-shaped parts to be kept in constant contact with the arched elements, regardless of the inclination of the jaw elements themselves.

Advantageously, a lower edge can protrude downward from the perimeter of the cover disc in order to position itself around the lateral outer surface of the cylindrical element, thus ensuring smooth cover disc rotation for the user.

Furthermore, the pressing element can include a cup-shaped element incorporating the contact surface that exerts pressure upon the tiles. The cup- shaped element is designed to be positioned below the cylindrical element, and is free to rotate in relation to the cylindrical element itself, so that, when the cup-shaped element is in contact with the tiles and the cylindrical element is rotated to press upon the tiles, the cup-shaped element itself does not rotate with respect to the tiles, thus preventing them from being moved or damaged.

In particular, the cup-shaped element can be coupled with the cylindrical element so that it is able to rotate but is not able to shift with respect to the cylindrical element itself.

In this manner, the cup-shaped element moves vertically together with the cylindrical element, thus making it easy to move the entire pressing element.

This is made possible by the fact that the cylindrical element can include a lower edge protruding perpendicularly, and the cup element can include a base disc with one or more teeth protruding from the raised edge on its circular perimeter. In particular, when the cup-shaped element is coupled with the cylindrical element, the bottom edge is positioned between the teeth and the base disc.

Advantageously, the cylindrical element can have ridges arranged at angular intervals along its lateral outer surface; thanks to these ridges, the user is able to obtain a better grip on the pressing element.

For exemplary and non-exhaustive purposes, additional specifications and features are provided in greater detail within the description below, as well as within the attached diagrams, wherein:

fig. 1 is an axonometric view of a leveling device, built according to the invention, consisting of a support and a pressing element;

fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the leveling device in figure 1 , according to plan A- A shown in figure 7;

fig. 3 an exploded isometric view of the leveling device shown in figure 1 ;

figures 4, 5 and 6 are axonometric views of three respective parts that make up the pressing element;

fig. 7 is a top-down view of the leveling device in figure 1 , according to a first usage configuration;

fig. 8 is a top-down view of the leveling device in figure 1 , according to a second usage configuration;

fig. 9 is an axonometric view of the leveling device, built according to the invention, in the second usage configuration, when exerting pressure upon the tiles. With reference to figures 1 , 2 and 3, the numeral 10 indicates a leveling device including a support 12 and a pressing element 14.

The support 12 includes a base 16 with a plate 18 extending perpendicularly, from the end of which a threaded pin 20 protrudes.

The pressing element 14 includes:

- a cylindrical element 22, open at the top and bottom;

- a cup-shaped element 24, designed to close off the cylindrical element 22 at the bottom;

- a cap-shaped element 26, designed to close off the cylindrical element 22 at the top;

As shown in figure 4, the cylindrical element 22 includes a hollow cylinder 28 with a protruding lower edge 30 and ridges 32 arranged at angular intervals along the outer surface of the cylindrical element itself 28.

Moreover, two raise parts 34, one opposite to the other, or rather 180° from one another, protrude from the top of the cylinder 28.

The cylindrical element 22 contains a first jaw-shaped part 36 and a second jaw-shaped part 38, which are positioned facing one another.

In particular, the first jaw-shaped part 36 includes a first semi-cylindrical part 40 which has a first external slide-shaped protrusion 42 at the top and a first threading 44 on the inside.

The first semi-cylindrical part 40 is attached to the inside of the cylinder 28 thanks to a first bridge-like structure 46 joined to the cylinder 28, in relation to which it is positioned transversally.

The second jaw-shaped part 38 likewise includes a second semi-cylindrical part 48 which has a second external slide-shaped protrusion 50 at the top and a second threading 52 on the inside.

The second semi-cylindrical part 48 is attached to the inside of the cylinder 28 thanks to a second bridge-like structure 54 joined to the cylinder 28, in relation to which it is positioned transversally.

The first threading element 44 and the second threading element 52 have the same pitch, and are arranged so as to form a single continuous thread when positioned adjacent to one another.

The cup-shaped element 24, shown on its own in figure 5, includes a base disc 56 with a contact surface, from the circular perimeter of which a raised edge 58 protrudes with four lower ridges 60 and four upper ridges 62 (only one lower crest and one upper crest are indicated in figure 5, along with their respective numerical references).

The four lower ridges 60 are arranged at 90° with respect to one another, and are separated from one another by the four upper ridges 62, which are therefore also arranged at 90° with respect to one another.

A slide-shaped tooth 64 (of which only one is shown in figure 5) protrudes towards the inside of the cup-shaped element 24 from each of the four upper ridges 62.

There is a central opening 66 in the cup-shaped element 24, which is formed by the overlap of a hole and a slot that extends beyond the diameter of the hole itself.

The opening 66 is bounded by a raised edge 68.

The cap-shaped element 26, shown on its own in Figure 6, includes a cover disc 70, from the circular perimeter of which a lower edge 72 protrudes downward.

The cover disc 70 has a central complex opening 74, the perimeter edge of which has a first arched element 76 and a second arched element 78 of equal conformation, both having the shape of a ramp, arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the complex opening 74.

In particular, the perimeter edge of the complex opening 74 has a first arched edge 77 and a first straight edge 80 belonging to the first arched element 76, and a second arched edge 79 and a second straight edge 82 belonging to the second arched element 78.

The first straight edge 80 connects the first end of the first arched edge 77 to the first end of the second arched edge 79, and the second straight edge 82 connects the other end of the first arched edge 77 to the other end of the second arched edge 79.

The first straight edge 80 and the second straight edge 82 lie on the same line that passes through the center of the complex opening 74.

Moreover, the curvature angle of the first arched element 76 and the curvature angle of the second arched element 78 are the same, and are such that the D1 cord, which ideally connects the nearest ends of the arched edges 77, 79 , has a length shorter than the D2 cord, which is perpendicular to the D1 cord and connects the most distant points between the two arched edges 77, 79.

The pressing element 14 is therefore formed by joining the cylindrical element 22, the cup-shaped element 24, and the cap-shaped element 26.

In particular, the cylindrical element 22 is pushed onto the cup-shaped element 24; the lower edge 30 of the cylindrical element 22 pushes onto the slide- shaped teeth 64 so as to expand the raised edge 58, as well as the four lower ridges 60 and the four upper ridges 62.

In this manner, the lower edge 30 is positioned on the base disc 56 of the cup-shaped element 24, below the teeth 64, thus preventing the cylindrical element 22 itself from becoming disengaged from the cup-shaped element 24. At the same time, however, the cup-shaped 24 element is free to rotate in relation to the cylindrical element 22.

The cap-shaped element 26 is coupled to the cylindrical element 22 at the top.

In their resting positions, the first jaw-shaped part 36 and the second jawshaped part 38 are separated.

The procedure for using a leveling device 10 built according to the invention is illustrated below.

We start by placing a first tile in the desired position, on top of the mortar that’s been spread over the concrete slab.

A user aligns a support 12 against a lateral edge of the same tile, where a second tile is to be laid, so that the base 16 of the support itself 12 is positioned between the same tile and the concrete slab.

The second tile is placed on the mortar so that it is adjacent to the first tile and is positioned over the base 16.

The plate 18 and the threaded pin 20 protrude from the gap between the two tiles. The distance between them is given by the thickness of the blade 18, thus determining the width of the grout line. In fact, the two tiles are placed in contact with the plate 18 of the chosen width.

Next, the pressing element 14 is coupled with the support 12, in such a way that the threaded pin 20 of the support itself 12 is inserted into the opening 66 in the cup-shaped element 24, and is positioned between the two jaw-shaped parts 36, 38, which are still separated. In particular, the cap-shaped element 26 is rotated so that the wider part of the complex opening 74, or rather that which is ideally traversed by the D2 cord, is aligned with the two jaw-shaped parts 36, 38.

The cap-shaped element 26 is then pushed downward; the ramp shape of the first slide-shaped protrusion 42 and the second slide-shaped protrusion 50 causes the two jaw-shaped parts 36, 38 to move slightly closer to one another and to move through the complex opening 74.

In this manner the first slide-shaped protrusion 42 moves above the first arched element 76 and the second slide-shaped protrusion 50 moves above the second arched element 78.

In this position the two haw-shaped parts 36, 38 are still separated.

At this point the leveling device 10 is in the first configuration, shown in figure 1 , in which the pressing element 14 is free to move vertically in relation to the support 12, without any particular constraints.

The user can thus quickly and easily bring the pressing element 14 into contact with the tiles, without having to screw the pressing element 14 onto the support 12.

The cup-shaped element 24 of the pressing element 14 is now in contact with the tiles.

Next, the user rotates the cap-shaped element 26 clockwise with respect to the cylindrical element 22, as indicated by the arrow F in figure 7; the first semi- cylindrical part 40 and the second semi-cylindrical part 48 are respectively pushed by the first arched element 76 and the second arched element 78 towards the central axis of the cylindrical part itself, thus forcing the two jaw-shaped parts 36, 38 to approach one another. The first threading element 44 and the second threading element 52 thus form a single continuous thread, which is coupled with the threading on the threaded pin 20.

At this point the leveling device 10 is in the second configuration, shown in figure 8.

In this second configuration, the leveling device 10 is actually used to level the tiles upon which the cup-shaped element 24 is resting.

In fact, the user can screw the pressing element 14 onto the support 12, specifically the cup-shaped element 24 onto the threaded pin 20.

Once the pressing element 14 is in contact with one of the two tiles, the user rotates the pressing element 14 itself, gripping it using the ridges 32.

Screwing the pressing element 14 onto the threaded pin 20 of the support 12 causes the cup-shaped element 24 to press the tile with the higher surface downward.

In addition to better adjustment, the reduced pitch of the threading created by the two jaws 36, 38 also allows for pressure to be exerted upon the tiles without the user having to make any major effort to rotate the pressing element 14.

The user can stop screwing once the cup-shaped element 24 makes contact with both tiles, with the leveling device set to the configuration shown in Figure 9.

Once the edges of the two tiles are at the same height, and once this operation has been carried out for all the leveling device arranged on the surface being tiled, the mortar is allowed to set so that the tiles will be affixed to the floor.

Next, the user removes the pressing element 14 and part of the support 12 by kicking or otherwise striking the pressing element 14 itself.

In fact, the blow to the pressing element 14 causes the plate 18 and the threaded pin 20, which are secured to the pressing element 14, to become detached from the base 16, which itself remains underneath the tiles.

This is rendered possible thanks to the reduced thickness of the plate’s 18 connection to the base 16.

Afterwards, the various pressing elements 14 used to lay the tiles can be retrieved for reuse, by separating the threaded pin 20 from the pressing element 14.

In order to perform this operation quickly, instead of unscrewing the threaded pin 20 from the pressing element 14, the pin threaded 20 can be easily released by simply turning the cap-shaped element 26 anti-clockwise to separate the two jaw- shaped parts 36, 38.

Additional variants may also be established, and are to be considered as covered within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, the leveling device built according to the invention may include coupling devices between the support and the pressing element other than threading, such as a shape-type coupling.