U.S. patent application number 09/786000 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-15 for apparatus and method for applying setting material.
Invention is credited to Mikhaylenko, Vadim V., Pringle, Marvin A..
Application Number | 20020108318 09/786000 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25137297 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020108318 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mikhaylenko, Vadim V. ; et
al. |
August 15, 2002 |
Apparatus and method for applying setting material
Abstract
An apparatus and method is provided for use in laying stone and
the like onto floors. The number of apertures in the apparatus may
vary, and a wall surrounds the plate of the apparatus as set forth.
There are four articles for adjusting the height of the apparatus
above a supporting floor to adjust the amount and level of setting
material to be applied. In an alternate embodiment, the thickness
of the plate of the apparatus determines how thick the setting
material to be applied.
Inventors: |
Mikhaylenko, Vadim V.;
(Jacksonville, FL) ; Pringle, Marvin A.; (St.
George, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DRAUGHON PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
ONE INDEPENDENT DRIVE
SUITE 2000
JACKSONVILLE
FL
32202
US
|
Family ID: |
25137297 |
Appl. No.: |
09/786000 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 21/00 20130101;
E04F 21/20 20130101; E04F 21/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/64 |
International
Class: |
E04B 001/346 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for applying setting material comprising: a. a
plate having a plurality of apertures; b. a circumferential wall
coupled to a top portion of said plate; c. at least four hollow
sleeves coupled to said wall; and d. a leg inserted through each of
said sleeves.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apertures are
circular.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sleeves are threadedly
hollow.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said legs are threaded.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sleeves further comprise:
a. a threaded hole, substantially perpendicular to said sleeve; b.
a threaded stud engaged in the threaded hole; and c. a knob coupled
to said threaded stud.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said legs further comprise a
spherical head.
7. A method for applying setting material using the apparatus of
claim 1, comprising the steps of: a. placing said apparatus on a
surface such that the plate is disposed at a predetermined height
above such surface; b. placing setting material on the plate within
said wall; c. smoothing said setting material over said plate and
allowing the setting material to fall through said apertures onto
said surface; and d. removing said apparatus.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for
simplifying the process of applying setting material onto a
surface. More particularly, the present invention relates to an
apparatus for applying a desired amount, level and location of
setting material on a controlled area of surface for speedy and
level setting of stones, such as marble, granite, or the like.
[0003] 2. Background of the Prior Art
[0004] In setting stones or tiles, there is a limit to the time
allotted. Specifically, there is usually a preset time for the
setting material, generally including "mud," to set on a supporting
surface. The minimum time to apply adhesive materials and "mud" to
level a supporting surface, and then apply adhesive to a stone (or
marble, granite, etc.) before placement is often limited.
[0005] In particular, minimum time is required for the installation
of "mud" to level the supporting surface, and minimum time is
required for the "mud" to set on that surface to a degree necessary
for supporting stone or the like. To ensure economy and efficiency
in setting stones or the like, time must be allotted to set up the
required amount of stone or the like to be set in a day, and there
must be a sure way of providing a level top surface to all of the
stone.
[0006] Consequently, there exists an unfulfilled need for an
apparatus and method for simple and efficient application of
setting materials before stone placement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is a general object of the present invention to minimize
the time in setting stone and the like, so that more stone can be
set per day than could be heretofore.
[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
novel apparatus and method for applying setting material which may
be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
unique apparatus and method for applying setting material which is
compatible with common stone adhesives and manner of
attachment.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus and method to efficiently set stones and the like on a
level plane.
[0011] It is further an object of the present invention to provide
a method for applying "mud" which will set in a minimum amount of
time, and provide a plurality of globular masses of setting
material to level a supporting surface. In attaining the foregoing
and other objects, the present invention provides a plate which is
supported at a predetermined distance above a supporting surface.
The plate is of a predetermined thickness, and is surrounded by a
wall which is higher than the plate so that mud can be scraped from
the plate and cannot fall outside the plate. The supporting legs of
the plate are of adjustable length so that accommodations can be
made in the length of the legs, whereby the top surface of the
plate will be level, regardless of the supporting surface. The
"mud" referred to is more or less a standard component of setting
material that will harden at a certain height in a minimum amount
of time. In addition, setting material preferably includes an
adhesive substance to be applied to the supporting surface before
application of the mud and to the stone, tile, and the like before
placement onto the mud.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following description, appended claims, and accompanying
drawings, where
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the plate assembly
consistent with the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a somewhat schematic section of the plate as set
up for applying setting material an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a somewhat schematic view in cross section showing
the method of applying the setting material in an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the "mud" forming the setting
material in accordance with the present invention;
[0017] FIGS. 5 and 5a are exploded perspective views illustrating
how the studs or legs of an embodiment of the present invention are
mounted; and
[0018] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the plate assembly
consistent with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The invention summarized above and defined by the enumerated
claims may be better understood by referring to the following
detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings. This detailed description of particular
embodiments, set out below to enable one to practice the invention,
is not intended to limit the enumerated claims, but to serve as a
particular example thereof. Those skilled in the art should
appreciate that they can readily use the concepts and specific
embodiments disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other
methods and systems for carrying out the same purposes of the
present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize
that such equivalent methods and systems do not depart from the
spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, in order to set stones, tiles, or the
like, an apparatus according to the present invention preferably
includes a plate having a plurality of apertures, illustrated as
sixteen holes 5, a square plate 10, and upstanding peripheral wall
15, all of which may be made of any suitable material such as
plastic, aluminum, steel, rubber, wood or the like, and held
together in any suitable manner with such materials as screws,
glues, bolts and the like. In an embodiment of the present
invention, brass is used in making the apparatus and the apparatus
is preferably welded together. Ideally, the holes 5 are drilled
into the plate to prevent any undesirable surface defects. In an
alternate embodiment, the holes 5 are stamped or punched through
plate 10.
[0021] In the illustration provided, there are sixteen aligned
holes 5. The number and dimensions of the holes 5 may vary with the
overall size of the apparatus. In addition, the plate 10 may vary
in size and shape. In an embodiment of the present invention, the
plate 10 is square and manufactured with a border extending beyond
the wall 15, leaving a circumferential plate 20. The
circumferential plate 20 preferably extends a half inch on each
side beyond the wall 15.
[0022] In the middle of each wall 15 section, there is a sleeve 25.
The sleeve 25 is preferably secured at its lower end to the
circumferential plate 20. The sleeve 25 includes a sleeve
circumference 30 which is ideally secured to the wall 15. In an
embodiment of the present invention, the sleeve circumference 30
contains a smooth surface along both the interior and exterior. In
an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the plate 10,
wall 15, and sleeves 25 can be made as one solid part.
[0023] A bore is preferably inserted through the sleeve 25 to
enable a hole to be provided in the circumferential plate 20 in
alignment with the sleeve 25. A leg 35 extends through each sleeve
25, of which there are preferably four, and the leg 35 is readily
slideable into the bored hole. A spherical head 40 has a screw by
which it is secured to the leg 35. A knob 45 on a threaded stud 50
extends through a threaded hole 55 for clamping engagement with the
leg 35 to hold the leg in place. In an alternate embodiment of the
present invention, rather than the spherical head 40, a knob or the
like is coupled to the leg 35. In yet another embodiment of the
present invention, the leg 35 is threaded and the bored hole
through plate 10 is threaded so that the leg 35 may be threadedly
inserted through the circumferential plate 10.
[0024] The legs 35, of which there are preferably four, are each
engageable with a threaded stud 50 in order to hold the plate 10 at
a fixed height above the supporting surface. The height above the
surface is determined by how far the legs 35 extend, and this can
be adjusted quickly and readily by loosening or tightening the
threaded stud 50.
[0025] If the supporting surface is flat and level, there will not
be any need for adjustment by way of the threaded stud 50. If one
area of the surface has a declivity or a rising high spot in it,
this can be readily accommodated by way of adjusting one or more of
the threaded studs 50 to adjust the leg 35. If there is a large
area representing a change in height of the supporting surface,
then this can be accommodated by changing the entire height of the
apparatus by adjusting all legs by manipulating all of the threaded
studs 50. In an embodiment of the present invention, the screw
height is readily adjustable to conform with the surface 50.
[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 2, application of the setting
material commences with placing setting material within the wall 15
as a shapeless mass 200.
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates the step of smoothing the shapeless mass
200 of setting material across the top of the plate 10. Smoothing
the shapeless mass 200 of setting material across the top of the
plate 10 causes the setting material to fall through the holes 5 to
form substantially globular masses 300.
[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates final formed setting material applied by
an embodiment of the present invention. When the setting material
falls through holes 5, substantially globular masses 300 of setting
material corresponding to holes 5 form beneath the plate 10 having
a common level surface at 400. Globular masses 300 of setting
material have a common level surface 400 no matter where they
occur, so that the stone or the like is set on a level plane. The
globular masses 300 are shown as four in number in FIG. 3, but are
shown as five in number in FIG. 4 to illustrate that the number of
holes 5 can vary in embodiments of the invention. The structure
heretofore described is removed while the setting material or mud
is still in a semi-solid state so that it remains as globules as
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Excess material can be left in a setting
state on top of the plate 10 where it can be reclaimed for further
use to form the globular masses 300 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0029] A sketch shown in FIG. 5, illustrates how the spherical head
40 is mounted to the leg 35. FIG. 5a illustrates a sketch of the
mounting of the threaded stud 50 having knob 45 through threaded
hole 55 of sleeve 25.
[0030] FIG. 6 is an illustration of an embodiment of the present
invention for setting tiles. The apparatus includes a plate 10,
holes 5 and the wall 15. The plate 10 and wall 15 are preferably
welded together in order that there shall be no leaks, and fit
quite nicely as shown. In this embodiment, no legs are included and
setting material is placed within the wall 15 and smoothed over the
holes 5. Preferably, excess setting material is removed once the
setting material has filled holes 5. The apparatus is then removed
to allow for placement of tiles or the like.
[0031] The assembly of an apparatus consistent with the present
invention, is preferably a permanent one. The plate and the walls
are of material that are sturdy, and the threaded stud 50, the
sleeve 25, and the leg 35 are made of sturdy material as well as
are ideally easily replaced. The number of holes shown herein is a
handy number and may be chosen by the installer.
[0032] The number and size of the supporting surface and of the
holes 5 are relatively small, speeding the application of setting
material. Generally, the number of rows and columns of holes are
partly dependent on the type of stones or tiles or the like to be
laid. The number and size of the holes 5 and other parts of the
apparatus are a matter of the size of the apparatus, and are
designed based on the needs of the artisan.
[0033] The setting material on which the stone, or other flooring
such as tile, is laid preferably consists of three layers. The
first layer is preferably of adhesive or coating material painted
on the back of a stone. The next or second layer is ideally mud of
the approximate thickness of the plate 10 or of the length of the
legs 35, and the third is preferably another layer of adhesive or
coating material of the thickness distributed by means of painting
on the supporting surface, such as a floor.
[0034] The thickness of the first and third layers is so small that
it need not be included in calculating the height of the globular
masses 300 of mud. The setting of the adhesive or coating material
forming the first and third layers is known in the art, and can be
calculated. The adhesive or coating material is preferably spread
by V-notched trowel.
[0035] The assembly as heretofore described is complete, and the
number of holes is a matter of choice for the artisan laying the
floor.
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