GB2538545A

GB2538545A - Levelling spacer device

Info

Publication number: GB2538545A
Application number: GB1508713.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Oliveira Spinola Kenedi; De Oliveira Spinola Roberto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-05-23
Filing date: 2015-05-21
Publication date: 2016-11-23
Also published as: GB201508713D0; BR202014012502U2

Abstract

A levelling spacer device 1 for flooring has a base 3, a first wall 5 extending perpendicularly to the base wherein the first wall has a rectangular opening 8 into which a wedge (C) inserted. The first wall has an upper wall section 6 above the opening and a lower wall section 10 beneath the opening. There is a second wall 12 perpendicular to both the first wall and the base, which traverses the lower wall section. The lower wall section and the second wall form a spacer with a cross shape or X-shape. The lower wall section may form a longitudinal spacing wall, and the second wall may form a transverse spacing wall. The first wall may have a thicker portion 17 above the opening and beneath the upper wall section which may be triangular or pyramidal 7. The base may be lozenge shaped with bevelled edges 4. The wedge may have an engaging face with locking grooves (16, Fig 5).

Description

LEVELLING SPACER DEVICE

The present invention relates to a construction device to be applied to resurfacing and flooring and to a spacer leveler or a levelling spacer device for flooring and resurfacing which has been developed with the purpose of allowing a perfect alignment and levelling of flooring, resurfacing and congeners, in a quick and safe way through a sole device that incorporates a cross-shaped spacer, which makes it possible to correctly position four tiles simultaneously, making the process of floor laying quicker.

As it is known, ceramic flooring in general presents several advantages, mainly related to its features of durability and ease of cleaning, in addition to being aesthetically pleasant with unique visual effects developed through the combination of textures, colours, sizes and shapes present in the ceramic tiles.

In order to ensure an adequate laying of ceramic flooring it is necessary to follow the right procedures, such as preparation of the base and use of liner to rectify the base, adjustment of floor elevation and/or camber, sealing, piping inlay, thermal insulation, or separation of the liner from the base.

Therefore, it is indispensable that adequate materials and accessories especially developed for ceramic floor laying are used, such as spacers which are parts designed to linearly guide the ceramic tiles and provide spacing for tile grout. Such spacers, in general, are formed from a rigid polymer having a "cross" or "T" shape. The spacer is a unitary or sole piece and has a low or reduced height which makes it difficult to manipulate the spacer during floor laying.

Another conventional spacer present in the market is formed by a sole piece formed of a transparent rigid polymer in a "cross" shape made up of a pair of mirror plates or arms along a longitudinal axis of the cross and a pair of mirror plates or arms along a transverse axis of the cross. The arms have an "L" section and are interconnected by a central base of rectangular shape and by peripheral bonds.

Another existing spacer consists of a cross-shaped sole piece made up of a rod along a longitudinal axis of the cross and a rod along a transverse axis of the cross wherein the rods are of rectangular section. Cylindrical projections extend from a first or bottom face of the rod, whilst the opposite face is directed to a trapezoidal-shaped orthogonal plate in the central portion of which there is a rectangular cutting for the alignment of tile edges or that allows for the tying of leader lines.

The published Brazilian patent application PI 8300061 deals with parts of appropriate shape to their purpose, such as "Y", "T", cross and other shapes, to be placed, by juxtaposition, among the ceramic tiles used in resurfacing of walls, floors, short walls and others, such as blocks, tiles, bricks, pastilles and similar, achieving a perfect alignment of parts all over the surface of the resurfaced area.

On the other hand the published Brazilian utility model application MU6902641 refers to a part or spacer device preferably made up of plastic, in a shape of a crosshead with equal arms, with a concave body and a groove shaped outline. The spacer device may alternatively have either a "Y" or a "T" shape, and have either an essentially straight outline or the outline may include a curved portion. This part also has an angled section protrusion extending from the lower face of the part wherein the protrusion forms a nozzle.

These parts make up a template and are used according to each tile or flooring model, on the corners between the tiles during the floor laying. These parts distance and level the tiles, with the help of a wedge, which allows for a compensation in alignment or in the case of defective parts and for a compensation for small differences in measurement where tiles and flooring are, say, factory rejects.

The published Brazilian patent application PI 1004793-0 deals with a spacer and/or leveller notably designed to help in the laying of ceramic tiles, such as flooring, tiles and others, displaying orthogonal elements to determine the spacing between the tiles. It is made up of a sole piece with a disc-shaped central part, equipped with a cut out central orifice. The lateral and the flat faces of the central part are equipped with structural projections, of rectangular section or similar, preferably distributed in fours and which are orientated orthogonally. Each one of the projections has equal and regular thickness, height and width, with the width slightly larger than the radius of the central part.

A first main face of the central part, opposite a second main face, includes several other orthogonal projections, of rectangular section or similar, preferably distributed in fours. Each projection is aligned in the same longitudinal axis in relation to a corresponding said structural projection, but with a smaller width and a reduced height in relation to the structural projection, and forming peripheral steps coplanar to each other and in relation to the first face of the central part.

The present application has the purpose to provide a new device as well as a new configuration; so, the inventor, after a long period of studies, has designed the construction device applied to resurfacing and flooring spacer and leveler comprised of a main body consisting of a levelling wedge and a spacer, the latter formed from a main flat base in a lozenge shape, with beveled vertices, whereby centrally this base projects out a perpendicular flat tower of variable thickness, with the upper section holding a pyramidal segment, under which there is a transversal rectangular container cavity that forms, in the bottom section, a longitudinal spacing wall, characterized by the wall projecting in its central section a transversal spacing wall, configuring a spacer with a cross-like thickness forming, in the main flat base, four laying basis, whereby the levelling wedge, displaying in its upper face several locking grooves, is inserted in the rectangular container cavity.

So that there can be a perfect understanding of what has been designed, illustrative drawings are attached, to which numerical references are made together with a detailed description, where: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the assembled levelling spacer device of the invention positioned in the flooring; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a spacer of the device with flooring being assembled; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the spacer with a wedge of the device; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the spacer; and Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the wedge.

As disclosed in the description and the figures, the levelling spacer device 1 for application to flooring and resurfacing or a construction device for spacing and levelling flooring or resurfacing consists of a main body 1. The device 1 comprises a levelling wedge C and a spacer 2.

The spacer 2 has a main flat base or substantially flat base 3. The flat base 3 has a lozenge shape. The flat base 3 has beveled vertices 4 or the flat base 3 has an edge surface 4 which forms a beveled outline of the base 3.

The spacer 2 has a flat tower or a substantially flat first wall 5 extending centrally and perpendicular to the base 3. The first wall 5 is of variable thickness. The first wall 5 has a transversal rectangular container cavity or opening 8.

An upper section or upper wall section 6 of the first wall 5 is above the opening 8. The upper wall section 6 has a pyramidal segment or a triangular profile 7 distal to the base 3 in a plane of the first wall 5. The first wall 5 has a portion 17 of increased thickness above the rectangular opening 8 and beneath the upper wall section 6 which comprises the triangular profile 7.

A bottom section or a lower wall section 9 of the first wall 5 is beneath the opening 8.

The spacer 2 has a flat second wall 12 perpendicular to the first wall 5 and to the base 3 and traversing a central section 11 of the lower first wall section 9.

The lower first wall section 9 forms a longitudinal spacing wall 10, and the second wall 12 forms a transverse spacing wall, the second wall 12 being of the same height as the longitudinal spacing wall 10. The longitudinal and transverse spacing walls 10, 12 configure a spacer 13 with a cross shape on the base 3, the spacer 13 being of the thickness of the height of the longitudinal and transversal spacing walls 10, 12. The longitudinal and transversal spacing walls 10, 12 divide an upper surface of the base 3 into four laying bases or areas 14 wherein a corner of, say, a flooring tile can be received in each laying area 14.

The levelling wedge C is inserted into the rectangular opening 8 and has an engaging face 15 forming an upper face (see Figure 5) which has several or a plurality of locking grooves 16. The engaging face 15 engages an upper edge of the rectangular opening 8 (see Figures 1 and 3).

From what has been described and illustrated, it can be seen that the levelling spacer device offers great advantages, as the device presented allows the spacing and levelling of four resurfacing or flooring tiles simultaneously, due to fact that the spacer 13 of the device has a cross-like thickness, as well as the device having the wedge C introduced into the rectangular container cavity 8, which stays in position and applies pressure to the four tiles being laid.

Therefore, after drying, the wedge C is removed and the main spacer 2 is broken, so that its base 3 remains. The cross-shaped spacers 13 embedded in the lying mass of tiles, are covered by tile grouting paste, so as to become imperceptible after the grouting has finished.

The new device makes it possible to obtain an excellent functionality level, offering a floor laying system that brings great advantages, having been developed, mainly, to simplify and standardize the tile and floor laying process. The claimed invention meets all the requirements that define the patent, for it modifies known elements giving them an innovative general aspect and is subject to industrial processing, and modifications can be made without changing the scope of the claimed invention.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A levelling spacer device for flooring, the device comprising: a spacer having a substantially flat base, and a substantially flat first wall substantially perpendicular to the base, the first wall having a transverse rectangular opening, an upper wall section above the opening and a lower wall section beneath opening, the spacer having a substantially flat second wall substantially perpendicular to the first wall and to the base and traversing the lower wall section, the lower wall section and the second wall configured to form a spacer with a cross shape on the base; and a levelling wedge arranged to be inserted into the rectangular opening.
2. The levelling spacer device of claim 1, wherein the lower wall section forms a longitudinal spacing wall, and the second wall forms a transverse spacing wall, the longitudinal spacing wall and the transverse spacing wall configured to form the spacer.
3. The levelling spacer device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first wall extends centrally from the base.
4. The levelling spacer device of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the second wall traverses a central section of the lower first wall section.
5. The levelling spacer device of any preceding claim, wherein the lower first wall section and the second wall divide an upper surface of the base into four laying areas.
6. The levelling spacer device of any preceding claim, wherein the first wall is of variable thickness.
7. The levelling spacer device of any preceding claim, wherein the first wall has a portion of increased thickness above the rectangular opening.
8. The levelling spacer device of any preceding claim, wherein the upper first wall section comprises a triangular profile distal to the base.
9. The levelling spacer device of claim 7 and 8, wherein the increased thickness first wall portion is above the rectangular opening and at least substantially beneath the upper first wall section which comprises the triangular profile.
10. The levelling spacer device of any preceding claim, wherein the substantially flat base has a lozenge shape.
11. The levelling spacer device of claim 10, wherein the substantially flat base has an edge surface which forms a beveled outline of the base.
12. The levelling spacer device of any preceding claim, wherein the levelling wedge has an engaging face which has a plurality of locking grooves, the engaging face arranged to engage an edge of the rectangular opening.