Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F21/00—Implements for finishing work on buildings
  • E04F21/0092—Separate provisional spacers used between adjacent floor or wall tiles
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F21/00—Implements for finishing work on buildings
  • E04F21/20—Implements for finishing work on buildings for laying flooring
  • E04F21/22—Implements for finishing work on buildings for laying flooring of single elements, e.g. flooring cramps ; flexible webs
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F15/00—Flooring
  • E04F15/02—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a levelling piece for cladding panels, such as wall tiles, floor tiles, or paving tiles, intended for facilitating the installation of constructive elements of this type.
• the levelling piece has a novel shape based on an inverted T-shaped profile with a flat base from which an inverted U-shaped element emerges perpendicularly connected to the base by two arms which define a portion in which a gable end which facilitates bonding with respect to a wedge in which is located a gable end which facilitates bonding with respect to a wedge.
• the object of the invention is to provide a levelling piece which ensures that the inverted U-shaped element is perpendicular with respect to the base in the levelling operation and generates minimum space between cladding panels, preventing the joint between the panels from opening, in order to favour the aesthetics of the installation.
• Levelling pieces which, when used in combination with a wedge, facilitate the placement of flat cladding panels, such as ceramic pieces, floor tiles, and other pieces with a substantially uniform thickness on floors, walls, or other surfaces, are known in the state of the art.
• a bonding material such as mortar or an adhesive, on which the panels for cladding the surface are placed. Said operation involves as many levelling pieces as necessary for the perfect arrangement between a pair of panels with the required surface flatness.
• levelling pieces As shown in patent document number ES2598702T3 , known levelling pieces have an inverted T shape with a flat base from which an inverted U-shaped element, commonly known as a horseshoe spacer, with an opening, emerges perpendicularly. These levelling pieces are supported at their base on the bonding material. Said document discloses a levelling piece according to the preamble of claim 1.
• Cladding panels are then arranged such that there are at least two levelling pieces on each side.
• the wedge is introduced into the opening of each levelling piece which separates two levelling panels. Upon hitting the wedge, a force is generated on the inverted U-shaped element tending to separate the levelling piece and the surface to be clad, which will also cause the separation of the cladding panels, with the panels being levelled out.
• the major drawback of the known levelling pieces of this type is that, oftentimes, upon introducing the wedge through its opening a bending moment is generated and causes the inverted U-shaped element to buckle, i.e., maintaining the levelling piece in a vertical plane with respect to the cladding panels cannot be ensured.
• the inverted U-shaped element not being perpendicular with respect to the base generates a larger separation between the cladding panels than originally designed, i.e., the levelling pieces often cause the joint to open in practice.
• the proposed levelling piece solves the problems set forth above in an effective and satisfactory manner, as a result of a novel shape in which the portion comprised between the arms defines an opening which has a gable end.
• the levelling piece for cladding panels has an inverted T-shaped profile with a flat base from which an inverted U-shaped element emerges perpendicularly, being connected to the base by two arms to define an opening or hole. Precisely, a wedge is introduced through the opening of the levelling piece for levelling the cladding panels, which are arranged on a layer of bonding material.
• the portion comprised between the arms of the levelling piece has a gable end.
• Said gable end generates a support surface with respect to the wedge offering improved bonding with respect to the known systems.
• precisely said gable end guides the wedge into a centred position with respect to the levelling piece, allowing self-centring of the wedge and the distribution of the forces applied by the wedge on the levelling piece in different planes, preventing the inverted U-shaped element from bending with respect to the base.
• the controlled distribution of forces defines a minimum space between cladding panels, which is defined by the thickness of the inverted U-shaped element located between them, and causes minimum opening of the joint demarcated by the space between the cladding panels.
• the portion comprised between the arms of the levelling piece has two right-angled ends, i.e., arranged parallel to the base, and being located adjacent to the gable end.
• This embodiment option of the levelling piece offers significant versatility during use as will be described in detail in the section of the preferred embodiment of the invention.
• the arms of the levelling piece object of the present invention optionally have notches at the ends which are connected to the base. Said notches are responsible for favouring the breakage of the inverted U-shaped element at the provided region in order to favour the partial release of the levelling piece, leaving the base concealed below the cladding panels.
• the levelling piece described in detail in the present invention allows offering an effective solution for levelling cladding panels which favours the installation operation.
• This solution offers better bonding of the levelling piece with respect to the wedge, which translates into the levelling piece being kept perpendicular during the levelling operation, reducing the space or the opening of the joint between cladding panels for a better aesthetics and an improved finishing of the claddings.
• a first preferred embodiment of the levelling piece (1) of the invention which has an inverted T-shaped profile with a flat base (2) from which an inverted U-shaped element (3) emerges perpendicularly with respect to the base (2), can be seen.
• the inverted U-shaped element (3) of the levelling piece (1) is connected to the base (2) by two arms (4) defining an opening (5).
• said opening (5) has a gable end (7) located in the portion comprised between the arms (4).
• This gable end (7) is the innovative feature of the levelling piece (1) of the invention which offers a surface with a differentiating shape that provides better bonding to the wedge (10) that must pass through its opening (5).
• the arms (4) of the levelling piece (1) preferably have notches (6) which are arranged at the ends which are connected to the base (2). These notches (6) facilitate the weakening and breakage of the inverted U-shaped element when it has to be separated with respect to the base. Specifically, this breakage of the levelling piece (1) will be caused when the cladding panels (120) are levelled and the bonding material on which said cladding panels (120) are placed is dry.
• the portion comprised between the arms (4) of the levelling piece (1') has two right-angled ends (8), i.e., parallel to the base (2), arranged adjacent to the gable end (7).
• the gable end (7) is located centred in the portion comprised between the arms (4) of the levelling piece (1'), flanked by the two right-angled ends (8).
• This second preferred embodiment of the invention which has the combination of right-angled ends (8) and centred gable end (7), enables the use of wedges (10) with a gable surface which is coupled at the gable end (7) of the levelling piece (1') as can be seen in Figure 7 .
• the presence of the right-angled ends (8) in this second preferred embodiment of the invention allows the use of known wedges (110).
• a levelling piece (1') according to the second preferred embodiment of the invention is used with a known wedge (110), such as the wedge (110) depicted in Figure 9 , the working surface of the wedge (110) will rest only on the right-angled ends (8) for the coupling between the levelling piece (1') and the wedge (110) with a known shape.
• FIG. 8 A section view of any of the preferred embodiments of the levelling piece (1), (1') is depicted in Figure 8 , in which it can be seen that the introduction of the wedge (10) does not generate the buckling of the inverted U-shaped element (3), and therefore it is kept perpendicular with respect to the base (2).
• the use of the levelling pieces (1), (1') of the present invention ensures a minimum opening between the cladding panels (120), and therefore a constant separation between them which ensures the aesthetics sought in the installation of the cladding.
• the inverted U-shaped element being perpendicular with respect to the base (2) as described in detail cannot be ensured with respect to the levelling pieces (100) known to date.
• the inverted U-shaped element deforms and buckles with respect to the base when the levelling piece (100) does not have a gable end.
• the known levelling pieces (100) in combination with known wedges (110) having a flat inclined surface, generate a separation and opening between the cladding panels (120) when the levelling piece (100) is not perpendicular during use upon applying large forces.
• the novel shape of the levelling piece (1), (1') of the present invention causes less wear of the wedge (10), prolonging its effective service life and generating self-centring of the wedge (10) with respect to the levelling piece (1), (1').
• any of the preferred embodiments of the invention is optionally provided with a rib (9) in the inverted U-shaped element, such that the rib (9) imparts reinforcement and robustness to the levelling piece (1), (1') to keep it perpendicular during the levelling operation involving the wedge (10).
• the ends of the base (2) farthest away from the inverted U-shaped element (3) of the levelling piece (1), (1') have a reduction in thickness, and therefore allow a reduction in the amount of material to be used for manufacturing the levelling piece.
• the base (2) of any of the preferred embodiments of the invention also has bevelled corners (2') to reduce the amount of material used for manufacturing same.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Finishing Walls (AREA)
• Soil Working Implements (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (4)

Family

ID=76578263

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (3)

Family Cites Families (15)

• 2021
  • 2021-06-03 ES ES202131154U patent/ES1272184Y/es active Active
• 2022
  • 2022-06-02 ES ES22815420T patent/ES3064070T3/es active Active
  • 2022-06-02 WO PCT/ES2022/070342 patent/WO2022254071A1/es not_active Ceased
  • 2022-06-02 EP EP22815420.9A patent/EP4350101B1/en active Active
  • 2022-06-02 CA CA3220990A patent/CA3220990A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-06-02 MA MA64871A patent/MA64871B1/fr unknown
  • 2022-06-02 US US18/566,352 patent/US20240360684A1/en active Pending

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