U.S. patent application number 13/564946 was filed with the patent office on 2014-02-06 for auxiliary device for the installation of plate-shaped products for covering floors and/or walls.
This patent application is currently assigned to S.I.R.I S.R.L.. The applicant listed for this patent is Franco TREVISI. Invention is credited to Franco TREVISI.
Application Number | 20140033641 13/564946 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50024111 |
Filed Date | 2014-02-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140033641 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TREVISI; Franco |
February 6, 2014 |
AUXILIARY DEVICE FOR THE INSTALLATION OF PLATE-SHAPED PRODUCTS FOR
COVERING FLOORS AND/OR WALLS
Abstract
The auxiliary device (1) for the installation of plate-shaped
products (M) for covering floors and/or walls includes: a first
element (2) having: a substantially flat base body (3) for
supporting two or more adjacent plate-shaped products (M) and a
gripping body (4) which is associated substantially at right angles
with the base body (3), the base body (3) being suited to support
the plate-shaped products (M) from opposite sides of the gripping
body (4); a second element (6) associable with the gripping body
(4) for fastening the plate-shaped products (M) between the base
body (3) and the second element (6) to define the coplanarity of
the plate-shaped products (M); and screw connection elements (7)
suited to allow the coupling by screwing of the second element (6)
on the first element (2) around a rotation axis (R) substantially
at right angles to the base body (3).
Inventors: |
TREVISI; Franco; (Modena,
IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TREVISI; Franco |
Modena |
|
IT |
|
|
Assignee: |
S.I.R.I S.R.L.
Modena
IT
|
Family ID: |
50024111 |
Appl. No.: |
13/564946 |
Filed: |
August 2, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/749.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 21/0092
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/749.1 |
International
Class: |
E04F 21/20 20060101
E04F021/20 |
Claims
1. Auxiliary device (1) for the installation of plate-shaped
products (M) for covering floors or walls, comprising: at least a
first element (2) having: a substantially flat base body (3) for
supporting at least two adjacent plate-shaped products (M) and a
gripping body (4) which is associated substantially at right angles
with said base body (3), said base body (3) being suited to support
said plate-shaped products (M) from opposite sides of said gripping
body (4); at least a second element (6) associable with said
gripping body (4) for fastening said plate-shaped products (M)
between said base body (3) and said second element (6) to define
the coplanarity of said plate-shaped products (M); wherein said
first element (2) and said second element (6) comprise screw
connection means (7) suited to allow the coupling by screwing of
said second element (6) on said first element (2) around a rotation
axis (R) substantially at right angles to said base body (3).
2. Device (1) according to the claim 1, wherein said second element
(6) comprises a ring-nut body (8).
3. Device (1) according to the claim 2, wherein said screw
connection means (7) comprise at least a substantially helical ramp
(9) associated with said ring-nut body (8) and a fastening body
(10) associated with said gripping body (4) and suited to engage
said ramp (9) during the screwing of said second element (6) on
said first element (2).
4. Device (1) according to the claim 3, wherein said ramp (9) is
arranged inside said ring-nut body (8), which can be fitted around
said gripping body (4).
5. Device (1) according to the claim 3, wherein said ramp (9)
comprises a side notch (14) which can be engaged by a locking blade
(15) associated with said gripping body (4).
6. Device (1) according to the claim 3, wherein said fastening body
(10) comprises a first inclined edge (11) having substantially the
same inclination as said ramp (9).
7. Device (1) according to the claim 6, wherein said fastening body
(10) comprises a second inclined edge (12) that, with respect to
the lying plane of said gripping body (4), is substantially
symmetrical to said first inclined edge (11).
8. Device (1) according to the claim 6, wherein said screw
connection means (7) comprise two of said ramps (9) arranged on
diametrically opposite sides of said ring-nut body (8) and two of
said fastening bodies (10) arranged on substantially opposite sides
of said gripping body (4).
9. Device (1) according to the claim 8, wherein the projections of
said ramps (9) on a plane at right angles to said rotation axis (R)
are substantially at a distance to define two corresponding fitting
seats (13) for fitting said fastening bodies (10).
10. Device (1) according to the claim 2, wherein said ring-nut body
(8) comprises a padded annular surface (16) suited to come into
contact with said plate-shaped products (M).
11. Device (1) according to the claim 2, wherein that said ring-nut
body (8) comprises at least an external ribbing (17, 17a) which
extends laterally and is suited to make the gripping easier by a
user.
12. Device (1) according to the claim 9, wherein said ring-nut body
(8) comprises a plurality of external ribbings (17, 17a) which
extend laterally and are suited to make the gripping easier by a
user and wherein at least one (17a) of said external ribbings is
placed in correspondence to one of said fitting seats (13) and has
a different thickness than the other external ribbings.
13. Device (1) according to the claim 1, wherein said gripping body
(4) comprises at least a grip (5) suited to allow the gripping by a
user.
14. Device (1) according to the claim 1, wherein said first element
(2) is made of a breakable material suited to allow the removal by
breaking of said gripping body (4) once the installation of said
plate-shaped products (M) has been completed.
15. Device (1) according to the claim 14, wherein said first
element (2) comprises at least a weakened section (18) suited to
favour said removal by fracture of the gripping body (4).
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to an auxiliary device for the
installation of plate-shaped products for covering floors and/or
walls.
[0002] It is known that during laying and installation operations
of plate-shaped products on floors and/or walls, such as tiles,
bricks, sheets or the like, it is usually necessary to position the
plate-shaped products at a reciprocal relative distance.
[0003] For this purpose, spacing devices are usually used, made up
of cross-shaped, T-shaped or other-shaped plastic bars, which are
suitable for ensuring the correct reciprocal positioning of the
tiles.
[0004] If on the one hand however, such spacing devices make it
possible to position the plate-shaped products very precisely with
respect to their reciprocal arrangement on the surface to be
covered, on the other, it cannot but be noted that they do not also
ensure the perfect coplanarity of the top surfaces (i.e., the
visible surfaces) of the installed plate-shaped products.
[0005] It must be remembered in fact that the surface to be covered
is not always perfectly level, the thickness of the plate-shaped
products cannot be constant from tile to tile and the layer of
adhesive placed in between the surface to be covered and the
plate-shaped products can show some lack of uniformity.
[0006] For all these reasons, the plate-shaped products tend to
take up a position which is not perfectly level and the user is
inconveniently forced to correct the height of each single
plate-shaped product using specific equipment and great skill.
[0007] In this respect, it must be added that the need for perfect
coplanarity of the surface is particularly felt when very regular
and perfectly smoothed plate-shaped products are used because in
this case the absence of positioning uniformity, even minor,
appears immediately clear.
[0008] In this respect, from the document IT 1 334 260, the use is
known of a spacing device which, besides spacing out the ceramic
products, allows ensuring level installation.
[0009] Such device comprises a series of flat fins, suitable for
creating ceramic product supporting areas, and an arc which stands
perpendicular to the flat fins and which is shaped so as to allow
the stable and forced insertion and positioning of a
tapered-profile element between the arc itself and the underlying
tiles.
[0010] During installation, the tiles are tightened between the
underlying fins and the tapered-profile element which is forcibly
blocked under the arc.
[0011] This spacing device also has drawbacks however including the
fact that the insertion and the coupling of the tapered-profile
element in the space below the arc is not always practical and
easy.
[0012] Furthermore, to ensure the necessary stability of the
tapered-profile element and prevent it from releasing itself during
installation, thus compromising the installation operation of the
plate-shaped products, the tapered-profile element must be forcibly
pushed underneath the arc and the user is not always able to apply
such force without the inconvenient use of special pliers or other
tools.
[0013] The main aim of the present invention is to provide an
auxiliary device for the installation of plate-shaped products for
covering floors and/or walls with which it is possible, in a
practical, easy and functional way, to ensure the exact coplanarity
of the plate-shaped products.
[0014] Another object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary
device for the installation of plate-shaped products for covering
floors and/or walls with which it is possible to simplify the
laying and installation operations of plate-shaped products.
[0015] Not the last object of the present invention is to provide
an auxiliary device for the installation of plate-shaped products
for covering floors and/or walls which can be used without using
special pliers or other tools.
[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
auxiliary device for the installation of plate-shaped products for
covering floors and/or walls which allows to overcome the mentioned
drawbacks of the state of the art within the ambit of a simple,
rational, easy and effective to use as well as low cost
solution.
[0017] The above objects are achieved by the present auxiliary
device for the installation of plate-shaped products for covering
floors and/or walls, comprising: [0018] at least a first element
having: [0019] a substantially flat base body for supporting at
least two adjacent plate-shaped products and [0020] a gripping body
which is associated substantially at right angles with said base
body, said base body being suited to support said plate-shaped
products from opposite sides of said gripping body; [0021] at least
a second element associable with said gripping body for fastening
said plate-shaped products between said base body and said second
element to define the coplanarity of said plate-shaped products;
characterized by the fact that said first element and said second
element comprise screw connection means suited to allow the
coupling by screwing of said second element on said first element
around a rotation axis substantially at right angles to said base
body.
[0022] Other characteristics and advantages of the present
invention will become more evident from the description of some
preferred, but not sole, embodiments of an auxiliary device for the
installation of plate-shaped products for covering floors and/or
walls, illustrated purely as an example but not limited to the
annexed drawings in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the
device according to the invention;
[0024] FIGS. 2a and 2b show, in a succession of views from above,
the screwing of the device of FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 3 is an axonometric view of the device of FIG. 1 during
the installation of two plate-shaped products;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a section view of the device of FIG. 1 during the
installation of two plate-shaped products;
[0027] FIG. 5 is another section view of the device of FIG. 1
during the installation of two plate-shaped products;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a section view similar to that of FIG. 5 during
the installation of two plate-shaped products with different
thickness;
[0029] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of
the device according to the invention;
[0030] FIG. 8 is an axonometric view of the device of FIG. 7 during
the installation of two plate-shaped products.
[0031] With particular reference to the embodiment shown in figures
from 1 to 6, globally indicated by 1 is an auxiliary device for the
installation of plate-shaped products for covering floors and/or
walls.
[0032] The device 1 comprises a first element 2 substantially made
in a single body and comprising: [0033] a substantially flat base
body 3 on which at least two adjacent plate-shaped products M can
be rested and [0034] a gripping body 4, which is associated at
right angles with the base body 3.
[0035] The gripping body 4 has a substantially plate shape and
rests on a lying plane substantially at right angles to the base
body 3.
[0036] The upper part of the gripping body 4 extends upwards to
define a grip 5 suitable for allowing it to be gripped by the
user.
[0037] The base body 3 is suitable for supporting the plate-shaped
products M from opposite sides of the gripping body 4, with the
edges of the plate-shaped products M substantially parallel the one
with the other and with the gripping body 4 and slightly at a
distance the one from the other, at least by the thickness of the
gripping body 4.
[0038] In this respect, it is underlined that the present device 1
can also act as a spacing element if the distance to be created
between the two adjacent plate-shaped products M corresponds to the
thickness of the gripping body 4; it cannot however be ruled out
that the device 1 be used in combination with traditional spacing
bars, which establish the correct distance between one plate-shaped
product M and the other, while the device 1 remains dedicated to
ensuring their exact coplanarity.
[0039] For this purpose, the device 1 comprises a second element 6
associable with the gripping body 4 for the fastening, i.e., the
compression, of the plate-shaped products M between the base body 3
and the second element 6 to define the coplanarity of the
plate-shaped products M.
[0040] More in detail, the first element 2 and the second element 6
comprise screw connection means 7 suitable for permitting the
coupling by screwing of the second element 6 on the first element 2
around a rotation axis R substantially at right angles to the base
body 3.
[0041] In the particular and preferred embodiment shown in the
figures from 1 to 6, the second element 6 consists of a ring-nut
body 8, i.e., a circular-section cylinder-shaped ring.
[0042] The screw connection means 7 comprise at least one
substantially helical ramp 9 associated with the ring-nut body 8
and at least one fastening body 10 associated with the gripping
body 4 and suitable for engaging the ramp during the screwing of
the second element 6 onto the first element 2.
[0043] More in particular, the ramp 9 is arranged inside the
ring-nut body 8, which can be fitted around the gripping body
4.
[0044] The fastening body 10 comprises a first inclined edge 11,
which is turned substantially facing the base body 3, has
substantially the same inclination as the ramp 9 and is suitable
for wedging on this for tightening the ring-nut body 8.
[0045] Furthermore, the fastening body 10 comprises a second
inclined edge 12 which, with respect to the lying plane of the
gripping body 4, is substantially symmetric with the first inclined
edge 11.
[0046] The first element 2 is therefore substantially symmetric and
specular with respect to the above lying plane, which makes
considerably easier its use and manufacture which, e.g., can be
done by simple injection moulding of plastic material wherein the
opening and closing plane of the moulds coincides with the plane of
symmetry.
[0047] Usefully, in the particular embodiment shown in the figures
from 1 to 6, the screw connection means 7 comprise two ramps 9,
arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the ring-nut body 8,
and two fastening bodies 10, arranged on substantially opposite
sides of the gripping body 4.
[0048] Each ramp 9 extends by an extension angle below 180.degree.
and the projections of ramps 9 on a surface at right angles to the
rotation axis R are substantially at a distance from one another,
to define two corresponding fitting seats 13 through which the
fastening bodies 10 can be passed during assembly.
[0049] Each ramp 9 has a side notch 14, i.e., turned towards the
inside of the ring-nut body 8, which is engageable by a
corresponding locking blade 15 associated with the gripping body
4.
[0050] The locking blades 15 lie on the lying plane of the gripping
body 4 and extend at right angles to the rotation axis R and skip
engage the side notches 14 of the ramps 9 during the screwing up of
the ring-nut body 8.
[0051] The locking blades 15, on the one side, hinder the
unscrewing of the ring-nut body 8 once the tightening position of
the plate-shaped products M has been reached and, on the other
side, aid the user in assessing the effectiveness of the screwing
up, inasmuch as they emit a characteristic sound at every skip made
on the side notches 14.
[0052] The ring-nut body 8 comprises a padded annular surface 16
which is suitable for coming into contact with the plate-shaped
products M and the purpose of which is to increase the contact
surface for tightening the plate-shaped products M.
[0053] The ring-nut body 8 also comprises at least an external
ribbing 17 which extends on the side surface of the ring-nut body 8
and is suitable for making it easier to grip by the user.
[0054] More in detail, in the particular embodiment shown in the
figures from 1 to 6, the ring-nut body 8 comprises a plurality of
external ribbings 17.
[0055] At least one of the external ribbings, indicated by the
reference number 17a to distinguish it from the others, is placed
in correspondence to one of the fitting seats 13 and has a
different thickness with respect to the others.
[0056] More in particular, there are two external ribbings 17a of
different thickness and these are located in correspondence to both
the fitting seats 13.
[0057] Usefully, the particular shape of the external ribbings 17,
17a allows the user to identify, both by touch and visually, the
relative position of the fitting seats 13 and to make their
coupling with the fastening bodies 10 easier.
[0058] Once the installation of the plate-shaped products M has
been completed, i.e., when these are stably glued to the surface to
be covered, the base body 3 remains trapped between the
plate-shaped products M and the surface to be covered, while the
gripping body 4, together with the ring-nut body 8, has to be
removed.
[0059] For this purpose, the first element 2 is made of a breakable
material suitable for allowing the removal by fracture of the
gripping body 4 once the installation of the plate-shaped products
M has been completed.
[0060] To make this operation easier, the first element 2 usefully
comprises a weakened section 18 suitable for favouring the removal
by fracture of the gripping body 4.
[0061] The weakened section 18 is defined in correspondence to the
connection point of the base body 3 with the gripping body 4.
[0062] The operation of the device 1 shown in the figures from 1 to
6 is the following.
[0063] The first element 2 is positioned on the pre-glued surface
to be covered in correspondence to the edge of one of the
plate-shaped products M already positioned on the surface, being
careful to place the base body 3 underneath such edge.
[0064] At this point, the other plate-shaped product M is
positioned on the remaining portion of the base body 3, in a
configuration wherein the gripping body 4 stands up between the two
plate-shaped products M beyond their visible surfaces.
[0065] The ring-nut body 8 is then fitted around the gripping body
4, aligning the fastening bodies 10 with the fitting seats 13 (FIG.
2a), and then rotated around the rotation axis R (FIG. 2b) until it
engages the first inclined edges 11 of the fastening bodies 10
against the ramps 9, in a tightening configuration wherein the
plate-shaped products M remain compressed between the base body 3
and the padded annular surface 16 of the ring-nut body 8.
[0066] Depending on the thickness of the plate-shaped products M,
the screwing up of the ring-nut body 8 is more or less deep (FIGS.
5 and 6).
[0067] Once the installation has stabilised, the gripping body 4
and the ring-nut body 8 are removed by means of a traction action
of enough intensity to cause the breakage of the weakened section
18.
[0068] The ring-nut body 8 can be subsequently re-used.
[0069] In the alternative embodiment shown in the FIGS. 7 and 8,
the device 1 still consists of a first element 2, split into a base
body 3 and into a gripping body 4, and of a second element 6 which
can be coupled with the first element 2 by means of screw
connection means 7 for the purpose of tightening the two or more
plate-shaped products M between the base body 3 and the second
element 6 to ensure the coplanarity thereof.
[0070] In this embodiment, the gripping body 4 is shaped to define
an arc-shaped body. The second element 6, on the other hand,
comprises a contrast plate 19, suitable for entering into contact
with the plate-shaped products M, and a support stem 20, which
supports the contrast plate 19.
[0071] The screw connection means 7 are defined by an external
threading 21, which is obtained on the side surface of the support
stem 20, and an internal threading 22, which is obtained in a
corresponding hollow disc 23 associated with the arc-shaped body 4
and which is suitable for being engaged by the external threading
21 during the screwing up of the second element 6 on the first
element 2.
[0072] For this purpose, the hollow disc 23 comprises at least one
side opening 24 which permits the interlocking of the support stem
20.
[0073] This way, the first element 2 can be positioned separately
to the second element 6, which can be coupled with the hollow disc
23 subsequently by inserting the support stem 20 through the side
opening 24.
[0074] Once the first element 2 and the second element 6 have been
coupled together, the contrast plate 19 finds itself housed inside
the arc-shaped body 4 and can be pushed against the visible
surfaces of the plate-shaped products M by simply screwing up the
second element 6.
[0075] To make this operation easier, the second element 6 has a
manoeuvring body 25, shaped like a disc, a lever, a key or the
like, which is associated with the extremity of the support stem 20
on the opposite side of the contrast plate 19.
[0076] The operation of the device 1 shown in the figures from 7 to
8 is similar to that of the previous embodiment.
[0077] The first element 2 is positioned on the pre-glued surface
to be covered in correspondence to the edge of a plate-shaped
product M already positioned on the surface, while the other
plate-shaped product M is positioned on the remaining portion of
the base body 3.
[0078] The second element 6 is then coupled to the first element 2
by inserting the support stem 20 through the side opening 24 and
then screwed up by making it rotate around the rotation axis R.
[0079] In the tightened configuration, the plate-shaped products M
remain compressed between the base body 3 and the contrast plate 19
ensuring the coplanarity thereof.
[0080] Once the installation has stabilised, the arc-shaped body 4
and the second element 6 are removed by means of a traction action
of enough intensity to cause the breakage of the gripping body 4
which, similarly to the previous embodiment, is made of a breakable
material.
[0081] The second element 6 can be subsequently re-used.
* * * * *