US20220290446A1

US20220290446A1 - Easily And Quickly Installable And Removable Tile Spacer With A Vertical Arm That Has A Loop Opening

Info

Publication number: US20220290446A1
Application number: US17/195,807
Authority: US
Inventors: Maggie Sorensen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-03-09
Filing date: 2021-03-09
Publication date: 2022-09-15

Abstract

It is a removable tile spacer that is used to properly and accurately lay and space a variety of sizes and shapes of tiles. The improved tile spacer is provided with an extension arm that has a loop opening that makes it much easier to set, adjust and to remove the tile spacer from between the tiles with ease.

Description

(1) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tile spacers are widely used for spacing of various sizes and shapes of tiles during tile installation. Tile spacers are used for maintaining a uniform joint space in the course of tile installation. Despite the variety of tile spacers available, current tile spacers have a number of disadvantages. There are many varieties of tile spacers but there has been an ongoing need for design improvement to allow for easy tile spacer removal after tile installation. Common problem with tile spacers design, especially cross shaped tile spacers and t-shaped tile spacers, are that they are not easily removed after installation, especially when the tile mortar has dried or when tiles squeeze the tile spacer in the tile joint space. Tile spacers can get stuck in the mortar between the tiles and removing them with needle nose pliers or a screwdriver or a tool designed to remove tile spacers is time consuming, inefficient, and risking damaging or chipping the tile.

(2) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Front side view

1. Tile spacer base

2. Tile spacer vertical arm

3. Tile spacer loop opening

(3) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Common issue with using tile spacer designs that are currently available is that they are not easily removable after installation. The tile spacers get commonly stuck between tile joint spaces and removing them can be time consuming, inefficient and risking chipping and damaging a tile that would have to be replaced. This is especially true with flat top tile spacers. This invention has an advantage over previously invented tile spacers. The advantage is in the form of a vertical arm with a loop opening that is situated in the vertical arm of the tile spacer. The vertical arm is centrally placed on the t-shaped or cross-shaped tile spacer base. The loop opening is located in the upper section of the vertical arm, This allows for much easier, faster, time efficient setting and removal of the tile spacer. After installation, the tile spacers are removed by inserting a tool inside the loop opening and easily pulling the tile spacer out of tile joint space. The spacer can be also pulled out with fingers by pulling on the vertical arm.

(4) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Tile spacers are used in the installation of wall and floor tiles. Tile spacers are used for spacing and aligning of all types of tiles when installing them on the mortar. Tile spacers are used between tiles to create a gap for straight and even grout spacing that gives a symmetrical finished look to the surface, in order for the grout to then be applied. Another reason for tile spacers in tile spacing is that they allow for free tile movement of the installed tile and provide for a more durable surface. Tile spacers create a gap between tile joints that prevent possible tile chipping of edges and also help to keep tiles in a straight line. Tile spacers are most commonly made out of plastic material. Tile spacers are usually cross-shaped or t-shaped construction and should be removed from between the tiles after installation. Current tile spacer designs are not easily removable after installation, especially if the mortar had completely dried. In general, tile spacers are removed with fingers, nose tip pliers, or a tool to dig the tile spacer out of the mortar in the tile joint space. It is time consuming and inefficient and at times it is nearly impossible to remove installed spacers. Tile spacers must be removed after installation. If tile spacer is not removed from between the tiles after installation, grouting over tile spacer will result in inferior results and will compromise the structural integrity of the grout and cause grout cracking. The unique embodiment of this invention is the vertical arm with a loop opening that is connected to the cross-shaped or t-shaped base of the tile spacer. The improvement of the tile spacer design in invention allows for much easier, faster and time efficient tile spacer removal after installation. Faster removal of tile spacers saves time, which in turn saves money.

Claims

1. The claimed invention is a self-contained tile spacer device for tile spacing purposes and comprising of a cross-shape or t-shape flat body;

wherein the tile spacer body is comprised of at least two arms that are joint at a common juncture;

wherein the improvement comprises of a vertical arm extending from the tile spacer's body common juncture of the arms wherein the vertical arm has a loop opening;

wherein the body and vertical arm portions are integral and said tile spacer body and vertical arm are constructed from plastic material.