EP4754348A1

EP4754348A1 - A levelling and spacing device for tiles, slabs or the like

Info

Publication number: EP4754348A1
Application number: EP24758023.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Zeno Cipriani
Original assignee: Dakota Group SAS di Zeno Cipriani e C
Current assignee: Dakota Group SAS di Zeno Cipriani e C
Priority date: 2023-08-02
Filing date: 2024-07-22
Publication date: 2026-06-10
Also published as: AU2024318198A1; CN121986204A; WO2025027447A1; IT202300016470A1

Abstract

A levelling and spacing device for tiles, slabs or the like, arranged to cover or line a flat surface, of the kind used to mutually level and space at least two adjacent tiles (P, P'), the said device comprising an elongated support body or rod (2), which is suitable to be arranged between at least two adjacent tiles and, to this end, is equipped with a base (3) designed to be positioned under the mutually facing edges of the two adjacent tiles The elongated body or rod (2) develops orthogonally from the base (3) and is equipped with means for the gripping thereof by an external pressure and levelling body (10) which comprises a structure equipped with means to grip, quickly and on command, the elongated body or rod (2) so that, through the action of the pressure member (10) coupled with the elongated body or rod (2), the pressure body (6) ends up pushing, in direct contact, the flat upper surfaces of the adjacent tiles (P, P'). Coupling and centring means are envisaged which implement a coaxial coupling between a portion of the frustoconical surface (8) of the pressure body (6) structure and a portion of the coaxial frustoconical surface (9) whose task is to push the annular surface (11) of the pressure body (10) into contact with the parts of the upper surfaces of the edges of the tiles by means of its own support surface (11), the said annular rest surface (11) being contained within the outer limits of the lower edge of the pressure body (6).

Description

A LEVELLING AND SPACING DEVICE FOR TILES, SLABS OR THE LIKE

DESCRIPTION

The invention concerns a levelling and spacing device for tiles, slabs or the like, arranged to cover or line a flat surface, of the kind used to mutually level and space at least two adjacent tiles.

It is of the kind comprising an elongated rest suitable to be arranged between at least two adjacent tiles and, for this purpose, features a base designed to be placed under the mutually facing edges of the two tiles; the elongated body or rod extends orthogonally from the base and is equipped with means that allow the gripping thereof by an external pressure and levelling body, the latter comprising a structure equipped with means for gripping, quickly and on command, the said elongated body or rod.

There are certain commonly known prior art embodiments in which the pressure and levelling body is endowed with a lower edge which can feature, directly and integrally therewith, a flat support surface designed to operate in direct contact with parts of the upper surfaces of at least two adjacent tiles or cooperate with an independent support member endowed with a similar surface. The task of the said flat support surface, which is arranged perpendicular to the central axis of the pressure body or to the support member, which is likewise endowed with a support surface arranged perpendicular to the central axis of the pressure body, is to perform the levelling, i.e. aligning the upper flat surfaces of the two or more adjacent tiles lying in the same plane when the said support surface is pushed against the upper surfaces of the adjacent tiles, exploiting the counteraction applied by the base to the lower surfaces of the said tiles. This operation is performed using the screw connection, whereby the pressure body is screwed onto the thread with which the elongated body or rod is equipped, with the result that the support surface of the pressure body ends up in contact and pushing against the flat upper surfaces of adjacent tiles.

The prior art embodiments that envisage the presence of a rest that is not integrally coincident with the lower surface of the said lower edge but is only secured thereto in the axial direction and is free to rotate, have some negative aspects. These aspects include a somewhat complicated construction due to the implementation of the coupling between the rest and the lower edge of the pressure body.

Furthermore, use of a rest which is secured to the lower edge of the pressure organ even if free to rotate with respect thereto, can result in drawbacks during use of the devices, especially during the stage to remove of the said element once levelling and spacing have been carried out and installation is complete.

The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the aforesaid limitations of the known art by means of a levelling and spacing device for tiles, slabs or the like that is simple and quick to use and is equipped with coupling and centring means envisaged between the said pressure body, and a rest whose task is to come into contact with the parts of the upper surfaces of the edges of the tiles (P, P’) as described below, as illustrated in the appended drawings, and as stated in the claims. Further characteristics and advantages of the levelling and spacing device envisaged in the present invention will emerge more clearly in the description that follows of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment illustrated, in the form of a non-limiting example, in the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows an exploded axonometric view;

- Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional view taken according to plane line A-A in Figure 3 below;

- Figure 3 shows Figure 2 in a top-down plan view; - Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the levelling device with the various components not coupled, in the same sectional view as Figure 2, taken according to plane line A-A in Figure 3;

- Figures 5 and 6 show two axonometric views corresponding to two subsequent stages when laying two adjacent tiles involving the insertion of the elongated element 2.

With reference to the appended figures, P and P’ denote two mutually adjacent tiles laid in succession to cover or line a flat surface with the interposition of an elongated rest or rod 2 which also acts as a spacing device and constitutes a component of the device 1. The elongated rest or rod 2 comprises a base 3 designed to be placed under the mutually facing edges of the two adjacent tiles P, which develops orthogonally starting from the base 3 and is equipped with means, consisting of a threaded section 5, for the gripping thereof by an external pressure body 6, which comprises clamping members 7, which can be pressure-operated in order to freely fit the pressure element 6 onto the threaded part 5 of the elongated rest 2.

The said elongated element or rod 2 is gripped, quickly and on command, by tightening two halves 7 of a coaxial threaded hollow seat featured in the pressure element 6 around the threaded part 5 (male). The two threaded halves 7 are mutually connected in an elastic manner so that when pushed together they cause the two halves of the threaded hollow seat to separate, allowing the said threaded part 5 to be inserted freely therebetween. The release of the two tabs 7 produces, once the initial (not elastically deformed) position is restored, the tightening of the threaded hollow seats around the threaded part 5. This allows the pressure member 6 to be screwed onto the elongated rest or rod 2 and consequently a portion of the coaxial frustoconical surface 8 with which the pressure member 6 is equipped to be coupled with a corresponding frustoconical surface 9 which is integral with a rest 10, whose task is to come into contact with the parts of the upper surfaces of the edges of the tiles by means of its own support surface 11 .

Through the execution of the rotation of the pressure member 6 coupled with the elongated body or rod 2, the pressure member ends up pushing, in direct contact, the flat upper surfaces of the adjacent tiles P and P' by means of the support surface 11 of the rest 10, exploiting the counteraction exerted by the base 3 against the lower surfaces of the said tiles.

This occurs through the use of the coupling and centring means described, which implement a coaxial coupling between a portion of coaxial frustoconical surface 8 obtained coaxially to the structure of the pressure body 6 and a portion of coaxial frustoconical surface 9 which is integral with the rest 10. The latter is designed to come into contact with the parts of the upper surfaces of the edges of the tiles P and P' by means of its own support surface 11 , which has the particularity of being contained within the outer limits of the lower edge of the pressure body 6.

The surface 11 for resting on the upper surfaces of the edges of the tiles P and P' is arranged perpendicular to the axis A-A of the pressure body 6 of the device and the said surface has the form of a circular crown whose diameter allows the said surface to be housed freely in the underside of the said pressure body 6.

The frustoconical coaxial surface portion of the pressure body structure 6 and the coaxial frustoconical surface portion of the rest 10 are geometrically shaped with the same taper so as to mutually couple upon contact.

The frustoconical surface portion 8 of the pressure body structure 6 and the coaxial frustoconical surface portion 9 of the rest 10 are smooth.

The structural conformation of the device is based on the fact that the support surface 11 has the shape of a circular crown whose diameter allows the said surface to be housed freely in the lower part of the said pressure body 6. This means that when the device is fixed to the floor, the portion of the coaxial frustoconical surface 9 of the rest 10 fits into the portion of the coaxial frustoconical surface 8, which is obtained coaxially to the pressure body 6 structure and keeps the said portion centred and blocked, creating a structurally solid coupling, but with a certain elasticity, between the two parts consisting of the rest 10 and the pressure body 6.

When the device is free and not supported, the release or disengagement of the two parts occurs automatically through a sort of spring effect triggered by the pressure exerted on the tabs 7 when they are pushed against each other.

Claims

26 August 2026

1). A levelling and spacing device for tiles, slabs or the like, arranged to cover or line a flat surface, of the kind used to mutually level and space at least two adjacent tiles, the said device comprising an elongated support body or rod, which is suitable to be arranged between at least two adjacent tiles and, to this end, is equipped with a base designed to be positioned under the mutually facing edges of the two adjacent tiles, the said elongated body or rod extending orthogonally from the base and being equipped with means which allow the gripping thereof by an external pressure and levelling body, the latter comprising a structure equipped with means for gripping, quickly and on command, the said elongated body or rod so that, through the action of the pressure body coupled with the elongated body or rod, the pressure body comes into contact with and presses against the flat upper surfaces of the adjacent tiles, exploiting the counter pressure exerted by the base against the undersides of the said tiles, the levelling and spacing device being characterised by the fact that the said device comprises coupling and centring means which implement a coaxial coupling between a frustoconical surface portion (8) of the structure of the pressure body (6) and a coaxial frustoconical surface portion (9) which is integral with a rest (10) and whose function is to push the annular resting surface (11) of the support element (10) into contact with the parts of the upper surfaces of the edges of the tiles (P;P') by means of the annular resting surface (11) thereof, the said annular rest surface (11) being contained within the outer limits of the lower edge of the pressure body (6).

2). A levelling and spacing device according to claim 1 , characterised by the fact that the annular surface (11) for resting

6

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) on the upper surfaces of the edges of the tiles (P,P') is arranged perpendicular to the axis line A-A of the pressure body (6) of the device (1 ) and the said surface has the form of a circular crown whose diameter allows the said surface to be housed freely in the underside of the said pressure body (6).

3). A levelling and spacing device according to claim 2, characterised by the fact that the frustoconical surface portion (8) of the pressure body structure (6) and the coaxial frustoconical surface portion (9) of the rest (10) are geometrically shaped with the same taper so as to mutually couple upon contact.

4). A levelling and spacing device according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that the frustoconical surface portion (8) of the pressure body structure (6) and the coaxial frustoconical surface portion (9) of the rest (10) are smooth.