WO2020225587A1

WO2020225587A1 - Spacer for tiles

Info

Publication number: WO2020225587A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/053648
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zeno Cipriani
Original assignee: Dakota Group S.A.S. Di Zeno Cipriani & C.
Priority date: 2019-05-03
Filing date: 2019-05-03
Publication date: 2020-11-12

Abstract

The present invention refers to a spacer to get a joint between tiles according to a precise measure. In particular, with a single spacer it is possible to choose the measure of the joint to be obtained among several alternatives, without having to resort to more spacers.

Description

SPACER FOR TILES

The present invention refers in general to a spacer for tiles. In particular, the present invention relates to a spacer capable of spacing two or more tiles from each other of a measure chosen among several alternatives.

As it is known, spacers exist on the market, which are placed between the tiles during the laying of the tiles so as to obtain a joint of a precise and always constant measure.

The commonly used spacers are elements in the form of an inverted T and include, therefore, a base to be positioned on the screed and a fin that protrudes from the base and is adapted to be interposed between two tiles which are placed against the fin itself.

In these cases, the distance between the tiles is determined by the thickness of the vertical fin.

Other known spacers are cross elements which are placed on the screed; in this case, the tiles are placed against two orthogonal arms of the cross element. The thickness of the four arms of the cross is, therefore, the distance between the tiles.

A common problem of the aforesaid tile spacers is a low flexibility of use.

In particular, it is necessary to have spacers of different measures according to the desired thickness to be obtained between the tiles.

Another problem of the tile spacers of the known art is the need to have various types of spacers, in particular of a different shape, depending to the distribution and positioning of the tiles.

An object of the present invention is to provide a spacer that solves the aforesaid problems and other problems of the systems known. Another objet of the invention is to provide a spacer that can be used to define different distances between tiles, without having to replace the spacer whenever the chosen distance changes.

All the aforesaid objects and other objects are reached according to the invention through a spacer for tiles suitable for being used by a user to space two tiles P from each other in tile laying and grouting operations.

The spacer according to the invention is characterized by comprising a base with a perimeter edge formed by at least five sides, a fin being protruding from each of the at least five sides.

Each fin has a different thickness from each other, in order to arrange the fin having a thickness chosen among the at least five fins between the two tiles P.

Through the spacer according to the invention, for example in case the spacer has five sides with five fins of different thicknesses, the user can choose among five different thicknesses with a single type of spacers. Between the tiles, the user arranges the fin with the chosen thickness of corresponding spacers without having to resort to different spacers in the case the user must choose different dimensions for the junctions between tiles.

To facilitate the operations for inserting fins with the same thickness, in the spacer according to the invention it is provided that the thickness of the fin may be indicated by a sign on each fin.

In order to connect two corresponding spacers and obtain a T-shaped structure, grooves may be formed in the base in number equal to the number of sides of the perimeter edge, each groove developing perpendicularly from a respective side of the perimeter edge towards the center of the base.

In particular, each groove has a different thickness from each other, the thickness of each groove being equal to the thickness of the fin protruding from a side adjacent to the side from which the groove develops.

To facilitate the connection between corresponding spacers, each groove may develop from the center line of the respective side of the perimeter edge.

Advantageously, at least one cavity may be formed in the base to facilitate the user’s grip with the fingers.

In order to be able to grasp the spacer on the opposite side with respect to the fin to be inserted between the tiles, at least five cavities may be formed in the base, in number equal to the number of the sides of the perimeter edge, each cavity being arranged adjacent to a respective vertex of the perimeter edge.

In addition, to give solidity to the spacer, at least five raised portions may be included in the base, a groove being formed between each of them.

Advantageously, a cavity may be formed in each raised portion to allow the user to grab the spacer.

A rise may protrude from the perimeter edge, in correspondence with at least one side of the edge, so as to enlarge the side of the perimeter edge which may eventually rest on the surface of the tiles.

Advantageously, in order to keep the spacer light enough, at least one fin, possibly the fins of greater thicknesses, may include a flat plate from the perimeter sides of which a relief protrudes vertically.

Further features and details can be better understood from the following specification that is provided by way of a non-limiting embodiment as well as from the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an axonometric view of a spacer carried out according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a top view of the spacer in Figure 1 ;

Figs 3 and 4 are side views of the spacer in Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is a schematic axonometric view of a set of tiles laid using spacers carried out according to the invention;

Figure 6 is a view of a detail indicated with A in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view of a detail indicated with B in Figure 5.

With reference to Figures 1 to 4, reference number 10 denotes a spacer comprising a flat pentagon-shaped base 12 from the perimeter of which a vertical edge 14 protrudes upwards, this edge being formed by five sides of equal length.

A portion of the edge 14, in correspondence with one of the five sides, includes a rise 16.

From each of the five sides of the edge 14, a fin protrudes at the base. The plan of the fin has a substantially trapezoidal shape; precisely, counterclockwise, a first fin 18, a second fin 20, a third fin 22, a fourth fin 24 and a fifth fin 26 protrude.

The first fin 18 and the second fin 20 have a substantially flat conformation.

The third fin 22 and the fourth fin 24 include a first inclined end portion 28 and a second inclined end portion 30, respectively.

The fifth fin 26 includes a flat plate 32 from whose sides not affected by the edge 14, a relief 34 protrudes vertically. The height of the relief 34 is lowered in correspondence with the outer portion 36 opposite the edge 14.

Each of the five fins has a different thickness and on each of the five fins, a numerical value equal to the thickness in millimeters is stamped, as specified below.

The thickness of the first fin 18 is indicated with S1 and a first numerical value 38 is marked on the first fin 18, specifically”.5”. In other words, this means that the thickness S1 of the first fin 18 is 0,5 mm.

Likewise, the thickness of the second fin 20 is indicated with S2 and a second numerical value 40 is marked on the second fin 20, specifically“1”. In other words, this means that the thickness S2 of the second fin 20 is 1 mm.

The thickness of the third fin 22 is indicated with S3 and a third numerical value 42 is marked on the third fin 24, specifically“1.5”. In other words, this means that the thickness S3 of the third fin 22 is equal to 1 ,5 mm, precisely of the highest flat portion, i.e. not of the first inclined end portion 28.

The thickness of the fourth fin 24 is indicated with S4 and a fourth numerical value 44 is marked on the fourth fin 24, specifically“2”. In other words, this means that the thickness S4 of the fourth fin 24 is equal to 2 mm, also in this case precisely of the highest flat portion, i.e. not of the second inclined end portion 30.

The thickness of the fifth fin 26 is indicated with S5, corresponding to the highest height of the perimeter relief 34.

A fifth numerical value 46, specifically“3”, is marked on the flat plate 32 of the fifth fin 26. In other words, this means that the thickness S5 of the fifth fin 26 is 3 mm.

Inside the edge 14, five raised portions 48 protrude from the flat base 12 in correspondence of each vertex of the five sides forming the edge 14.

A circular cavity 50 is formed in each of said raised portions 48.

The five raised portions 48 are separated by a groove that develops from the center line of each side towards the center of the flat base 12.

A first groove 52 develops from the edge side corresponding to the first fin 18 and has a width that is equal to the thickness of the fifth fin 26, i.e. S5.

A second groove 54 develops from the edge side corresponding to the second fin 20 and has a width that is equal to the thickness of the first fin 18, i.e. S1.

A third groove 56 develops from the edge side corresponding to the third fin 22 and has a width that is equal to the thickness of the second fin 20, i.e. S2.

A fourth groove 58 develops from the edge side corresponding to the fourth fin 24 and has a width that is equal to the thickness of the third fin 22, i.e. S3.

A fifth groove 60 develops from the edge side corresponding to the fifth fin 26 and has a width that is equal to the thickness of the fourth fin 24, i.e. S4.

As shown in Figures 5 to 7, spacers 10 are placed between tiles P so as to space all the tiles of the same distance.

Regarding the application method of the spacer according to the invention, initially the user chooses the thickness among the thicknesses that the spacer according to the invention provides.

In the illustrated case, the joints created between the tiles P must have a width of 3 mm.

The user grabs the spacer 10 in correspondence with the vertex of the edge 14, opposite the fifth fin 26 that has a thickness S5 of 3 mm as indicated by the fifth numerical value 46.

As shown in Figure 6, in order to better grasp the spacer, the user uses the hole 50 to insert the thumb or forefinger of his hand, this hole being formed in the respective raised portion 48 opposite the fifth fin 26.

Then, the user inserts the fifth fin 26 between two adjacent tiles P so that the two tiles are in abutment with the fifth fin 26.

Once a spacer 10 has been inserted between each pair of adjacent tiles P, or in any case according to the criteria of the prior art, the user can proceed with the grouting of the floor.

Besides, the particular conformation of the innermost part of the spacer 10 according to the invention allows to connect two spacers 10, 10’ to each other so as to obtain a sort of T-shaped configuration, as shown in Figure 7.

In particular, the grooves formed between the raised portions 48 are arranged in such a way as to connect a first spacer 10 and a second spacer 10’ to each other, so that the fins to be placed between tiles P have the same thickness.

In the case illustrated in Figure 7, the fourth fin 24’ of the second spacer 10’ fits into the fifth groove 60 of the first spacer 10.

The rise 16 of the edge 14 extends the surface of the side from which the fifth fin 26 protrudes so as to widen the bearing surface on the tile P, when the fifth fin 26 is arranged in the respective joint.

A technician in the field can make changes or variants that are to be considered as included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

For example, a spacer according to the invention may include fins with different thicknesses from those of the illustrated case.

Claims

1. Spacer (10) for tiles suitable for being used by a user to space two tiles P from each other in tile laying and grouting operations,

characterized by comprising a base (12) with a perimeter edge (14) formed by at least five sides, a fin (18 20, 22, 24, 26) being protruding from each of the at least five sides, each fin (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) having a different thickness from each other, in order to arrange the fin having a thickness chosen among the at least five fins between the two tiles P.

2. Spacer (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the thickness of the fin is indicated by a sign (38, 40, 42, 44, 46) on each fin (18, 20, 22, 24, 26).

3. Spacer (10) according to one of the preceding claims, whereingrooves (52, 54, 56, 58, 60) are formed in the base (12) in number equal to the number of sides of the perimeter edge (14), each groove developing perpendicularly from a respective side of the perimeter edge (14) toward the center of the base, each groove (52, 54, 56, 58, 60) having a different thickness from each other, the thickness of each groove being equal to the thickness of the fin protruding from a side adjacent to the side from which the groove develops.

4. Spacer (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein each groove develops from the center line of the respective side of the perimeter edge (14).

5. Spacer (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one cavity (50) is formed in the base (12).

6. Spacer (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein at least five cavities (50) are formed in the base (12), in number equal to the number of the sides of the perimeter edge (14), each cavity (50) being arranged adjacent to a respective vertex of the perimeter edge (14).

7. Spacer (10) according to one of claims 3 to 6, wherein at least five raised portions (48) are included in the base (12), a groove (52, 54, 56, 58, 60) being formedbetween each of them.

8. Spacer (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein a cavity (50) is formed in each raised portion (48).

9. Spacer (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a rise (16) protrudes from the perimeter edge (14), in correspondence with at least one side of the edge (14) itself.

10. Spacer (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one fin (26) includes a flat plate (32) from whose perimeter sides a relief (34) protrudes vertically.