NZ752735A - Spacer for laying tiles, bricks and the like with the interposition of gaps - Google Patents

Abstract

A spacer (10) for laying tiles, bricks and the like with the interposition of gaps, which comprises a plate-like body 5 (11) which is open internally with at least one spacing protrusion (12) that protrudes outward from the body (11) and defines the width of a respective gap.

Description

SPACER FOR LAYING TILES, BRICKS AND THE LIKE WITH THE INTERPOSITION OF GAPS This application claims priority from Italian patent application 102018000005016, filed 3 May 2018, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates to a spacer for laying tiles, bricks and the like with the interposition of gaps.

In the laying of floor surfaces and coverings composed of tiles, bricks or slabs, a difficulty is typically encountered in spacing such elements apart equidistantly in order to create the gaps.

Nowadays leveling spacers are known for laying tiles, bricks and the like, which comprise: - a base, to be arranged below two laterally adjacent tiles and from which spacing protrusions extend to define the width of the gaps, and locator abutments for the edges of the tiles; - a threaded stem, which extends at right angles at the base and is connected to it in at least one facilitated breakage point; - a knob for fastening and removing the stem, which comprises a female threaded portion adapted to be screwed to the stem.

The knob is provided with a plate-like part which is designed to be pressed during clamping against the tiles in a first step of laying the tiles in order to immobilize the edges and corners of multiple tiles arranged on the base.

Once the fixing of the tiles to the underlying surface is completed, the stem is removed by way of further rotation by screwing the knob on the threaded stem. In fact, this further rotation of the knob in the same direction of screwing causes the traction in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement of the tiles of the threaded stem, until the breakage of the breaking points, with consequent removal of the stem and of its tabs from the base.

The base is embedded and hidden by the material with which the gaps between the tiles are made.

This and similar conventional spacers have a considerable drawback in that when laying the base, they remain, unrecoverable, inside the gaps, thus constituting a weak point for the correct adhesion of the adhesive and of the putty between the tiles, marble and/or any other material.

For the same reason, conventional spacers have a cost that influences the overall costs of laying tiles and the like.

The aim of at least a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a spacer that is capable of improving the known art in one or more of the above mentioned aspects.

Within this aim, an object of at least a preferred embodiment of the invention is to provide a spacer that is capable of ensuring the correct laying of tiles, bricks or the like, without parts that remain unrecovered inside the gaps.

Another object of at least a preferred embodiment of the invention is to provide a spacer that makes it possible to lay the tiles according to the correct leveling.

A further object of at least a preferred embodiment of the invention is to provide a spacer that, if necessary, can be integrated with conventional spacers in order to reduce their drawbacks and in order to obtain better leveling results.

Another object of at least a preferred embodiment of the invention is to provide a spacer that makes it possible to reduce the costs of material in the laying of tiles.

A further object of at least a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the known art in an alternative manner to any existing solutions.

Another object of at least a preferred embodiment of the invention is to provide a spacer that is highly reliable, easy to implement and at low cost.

An additional or alternative object of at least a preferred embodiment of the invention is to provide the public with a useful choice.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spacer for laying tiles, bricks and the like with the interposition of gaps, comprising a plate-like body which is open internally with at least one spacing protrusion that protrudes outward from said body and defines the width of a respective gap.

The term ‘comprising’ as used in this specification and claims means ‘consisting at least in part of’. When interpreting statements in this specification and claims which include the term ‘comprising’, other features besides the features prefaced by this term in each statement can also be present. Related terms such as ‘comprise’ and ‘comprised’ are to be interpreted in a similar manner.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description that follows of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the spacer according to the invention, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of the spacer according to the invention; - Figure 2 is another perspective view of the spacer according to the invention; - Figure 3 is a view from above of the spacer according to the invention during the laying of four tiles; - Figure 4 is a view from above of the spacer according to the invention during the laying of three tiles; - Figure 5 is a side view of the spacer according to the invention during the laying of tiles; - Figure 6 is a side view of a step of laying with the spacer according to the invention, integrated with a conventional leveling spacer; - Figure 7 shows another step of laying.

With reference to the figures, the spacer according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, comprises a plate-like body 11 which is open internally with at least one spacing protrusion 12 that protrudes outward from the body 11 and defines the width of a respective gap.

The body 11 shown in the example is substantially teardrop-shaped or P-shaped, but it can also have different shapes, for example: round, square, lozenge, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal etc. as long as it has a central opening.

At least one such first spacing protrusion, designated with 13, protrudes outward and from at least one of two opposite faces of the body 11 along an arrangement that is perpendicular to the arrangement of that body 11.

In particular, the body 11 comprises three first spacing protrusions 13 which protrude from both of the opposite faces of the body 11, of which two protrude in a diametrically opposite position and one protrudes in a direction that is perpendicular to the preceding protrusions. These are also designated with 13a in Figure 3 and in Figure 4.

Substantially such three protrusions just described are configured as partitions, of the same thickness, which pass through the body 11 from one face to the opposite face.

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 4, the spacer 10 comprises four first spacing protrusions 13 which are arranged at 90° to each other, i.e. substantially in a cross, and of which three protrude from both of the opposite faces of the body 11 and one protrudes only from one of the two opposite faces. The first three are also designated with 13a and the other with 13b.

Figure 3 is a view from above of the spacer 10 during the laying of four tiles 14 in a cross.

In this first case, the upper face of the spacer 10 is the one on which only three of the first protrusions 13 are visible, although four protrusions are used, i.e. the three protrusions 13a plus the protrusion 13b which protrude from the lower face.

Figure 4 is a view from above of the spacer 10 during the laying of three tiles 14, i.e. a T-shaped laying.

In this second case, the spacer 10 has been rotated 180° and the upper face of the spacer 10 is the one on which four first protrusions 13 can be seen, while the three protrusions 13a that protrude from both of the faces are used.

In both cases, the central opening of the body 11 makes the tiles 14 visible to the operator during the application of the spacer 10.

The thicknesses that define the width of the gaps are defined at the design stage and are all identical for the four elements. They can preferably be 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm and 5 mm, or of other dimensions as a function of the requirements.

Therefore alternative spacers exist, with which the operator can be provided for the laying of the floor covering.

The protrusions 13 protrude preferably 5 mm from the body 11.

Alternatively they can protrude up to 50 mm.

The spacer 10 has at least one second spacing protrusion 15 which is substantially constituted by a tooth that protrudes radially in a cantilever fashion from the external perimeter of the body 11, along the same arrangement as that body.

There are four second spacing protrusions 15, positioned in pairs in diametrically opposing directions and in pairs at right angles.

The four second protrusions 15 have different thicknesses, preferably 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm and 5 mm. The thickness can also be different from the preceding values indicated, and the number of these second protrusions can be different.

The function of such second spacing protrusions 15 is to create the gap space between two tiles in linear laying.

The body 11 has a flat portion 16 for placing on the tiles 14 which protrudes on its opposite faces. Such flat portion 16 is perimetric.

Such flat portion 16 enables the spacer 10 to be placed evenly on the tiles and therefore it enables a correct leveling.

Figure 5 is a side view of the use of the spacer 10, from which it is clear how it makes it possible to set the distance between two tiles 14 and place the edge 16 on their surface. At the end of the laying, the spacer 10 is removed from the tiles without any part of it remaining inside the flooring surface.

Figure 6 shows the spacer 10 according to the invention, integrated with another leveling spacer, substantially conventional per se, which comprises: - a base 17, to be arranged below two laterally adjacent tiles 14 and from which protrusions extend, preferably of minimum thickness 1 mm; - a threaded stem 18, which extends at right angles at the base 17 and is connected to it in at least one facilitated breakage point; - a knob 19 for fastening and removing the stem 18, which comprises a female threaded portion adapted to be screwed to the stem.

The spacer 10 is interposed between the upper surface of the tiles 14 and the knob 19, in order to improve the leveling.

The base 17 is substantially linear, spacing protrusions not being required in order to define the cross-shaped or T-shaped gaps, for which the protrusions 13 of the spacer 10 are used.

Figure 7 shows the base 17, with the threaded stem 18, positioned below the tiles 14.

The leveling is achieved by screwing the knob 19 on the stem 18. At the end of the leveling, the knob 19 is removed, ripping the stem 18 from the base 17, and the spacer 10 is also removed.

Underneath the tiles 14 all that remains is the base 17, and no component remains in the gaps.

Use of the spacer, according to the invention, is evident from the foregoing description and explanation and, in particular, it is clear the ease with which it can be used, and the fact that no part of it remains inside the gaps, creating a vulnerable weak point for the correct adhesion of the laying materials.

In fact, the spacer makes it possible to correctly space apart the floor covering of tiles or bricks or the like, according to the desired gap thickness and, prior to filling, when the adhesive or other adapted material has taken hold, it can be removed.

Furthermore, the use combined with a leveling spacer in the form of a knob, like the one described, makes it possible to obtain a correct distance between the tiles and also a correct leveling.

Furthermore, the interposition of the spacer according to the invention between the tiles and the knob makes it possible to screw the knob onto the spacer and not directly onto the flooring surface, thus preventing dust or grains of sand from scratching the surface of the tiles.

In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects by providing a spacer that is capable of ensuring the correct laying of tiles, bricks or the like, without parts that remain unrecovered inside the gaps and according to the correct leveling.

The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

Claims (8)

1. A spacer for laying tiles, bricks and the like with the interposition of gaps, comprising a plate-like body which is open internally with at least one spacing protrusion that protrudes outward from said body and defines a 5 width of a respective gap.

2. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein at least one first spacing protrusion protrudes outward and from at least one of two opposite faces of said body along an arrangement that is perpendicular to the arrangement of said body. 10

3. The spacer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one second spacing protrusion is substantially constituted by a tooth that protrudes radially in a cantilever fashion from an external perimeter of said body, along the same arrangement as said body.

4. The spacer according to claim 2, comprising three first spacing 15 protrusions which protrude from both of the opposite faces of said body, of which two protrude in a diametrically opposite position and one protrudes in a direction that is perpendicular to the preceding protrusions.

5. The spacer according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising four first spacing protrusions which are arranged at 90° to each 20 other, of which three protrude from both of the opposite faces of said body and one protrudes only from one of the two opposite faces.

6. The spacer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said body has at least one flat portion for placing on tiles which protrudes on its opposite faces. 25

7. The spacer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said flat portion is perimetric.

8. The spacer according to claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment disclosed. SPACER FOR LAYING TILES, BRICKS AND THE LIKE WITH THE INTERPOSITION OF GAPS