U.S. patent application number 16/681706 was filed with the patent office on 2020-05-14 for apparatus for tile leveling and spacing.
This patent application is currently assigned to Paragon Industries, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Eddie Tracz Bedrosian. Invention is credited to Eddie Bedrosian, Li Feng, Grzegorz Tracz.
Application Number | 20200149296 16/681706 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 70551037 |
Filed Date | 2020-05-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200149296 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bedrosian; Eddie ; et
al. |
May 14, 2020 |
APPARATUS FOR TILE LEVELING AND SPACING
Abstract
A leveling spacer may include a base, a connecting piece having
a breakage portion, a threaded shaft and a pressure applicator. In
one embodiment, the breakage portion of the connecting piece is
disposed at right angles to the base, and the other end thereof is
connected with the threaded shaft. The pressure applicator is
configured to engage and remove the threaded shaft, and more
specifically, the pressure applicator may include a female threaded
chamber to correspondingly engage with the threaded shaft. When the
pressure applicator is rotated down the shaft, it can also apply
pressure to level and immobilize the substrate.
Inventors: |
Bedrosian; Eddie; (Laguna
Beach, CA) ; Tracz; Grzegorz; (Costa Mesa, CA)
; Feng; Li; (Hangzhou, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bedrosian; Eddie
Tracz; Grzegorz
Feng; Li |
Laguna Beach
Costa Mesa
Hangzhou |
CA
CA |
US
US
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
Paragon Industries, Inc.
Anahiem
CA
|
Family ID: |
70551037 |
Appl. No.: |
16/681706 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62758860 |
Nov 12, 2018 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 21/0092 20130101;
E04F 21/1877 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04F 21/00 20060101
E04F021/00; E04F 21/18 20060101 E04F021/18 |
Claims
1. A leveling spacer comprising: a base to be inserted underneath
one or more substrates; a connecting piece having one end, which is
a breakage portion, extending from the base at right angle; a
threaded shaft vertically connected to the other end of the
connecting piece; and a pressure applicator configured to engage
with the threaded shaft through a corresponding female threaded
chamber to rotate and apply pressure to level and immobilize the
substrates; wherein the pressure applicator can be further rotated
at the end of the threaded shaft to provide an external force to
cause the breakage of the connecting piece on the base, so the
connecting piece along with the threaded shaft are removed from the
leveling spacer.
2. The leveling spacer of claim 1, wherein the pressure applicator
includes one or more guiding channels to guide different types of
connecting pieces along with the threaded shafts out of the
pressure applicator after being removed from the base.
3. The leveling spacer of claim 1, wherein threaded shaft includes
a top edge having a predetermined angle to allow the pressure
applicator to easily insert and remove from the shaft, and the
pressure applicator has a guiding surface configured to guide the
top edge into the female threaded chamber.
4. The leveling spacer of claim 2, wherein threaded shaft includes
a top edge having a predetermined angle to allow the pressure
applicator to easily insert and remove from the shaft, and the
pressure applicator has a guiding surface configured to guide the
top edge into the female threaded chamber.
5. The leveling spacer of claim 1, wherein the pressure applicator
is made of Nylon and glass fiber.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119
(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/758,860,
filed on Nov. 12, 2018, the entire contents of which are hereby
incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a leveling spacer for
tiles, and more particularly to an apparatus that ensures that all
tiles used in an installation will be properly spaced apart from
one another and level with one another.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Tile has become a popular decorative and functional article
for use in floors, walls, countertops, and the like. Both
professional tile installers and do-it-yourselfers spend a great
deal of time aligning and leveling tiles as the tiles are being
placed on a substrate's surface. Positioning a large plurality of
tiles on a floor in such a way that all of the tiles are properly
aligned and spaced apart from one another and level relative to one
another when the job is complete is a difficult task. Spacing the
tiles apart from one another is problematic, and most installers
just align and space the tiles as best they can by relying upon the
well-known "eyeballing" technique.
[0004] Laying and leveling tile can be difficult because many
substrates are uneven, such as the ground substrate when laying
tile for an outdoor patio. In this case, it can be difficult to
raise the low areas of the substrate with mortar or other objects
so that all the tiles are level. Further, tiles can shift and sink
into mortar as the mortar dries. It has traditionally been
necessary to continually monitor newly laid tiles as the mortar
dries to ensure that the tiles remain level. Tile installers have
used a variety of devices and methods to maintain quality the
installation while completing the installation process as fast as
possible. One basic method uses markings on the substrate surface.
Marking the installation surface requires the mortar to be
carefully applied such that the marks remain visible. Although this
technique aids in the alignment of the tiles, it does not keep the
tiles level as they are laid in the mortar. Further, the use of
this marking technique increases the amount of time required for
the installation which results in increased cost.
[0005] Proper alignment and leveling of each tile is important for
a number of reasons. One reason is that if one tile is improperly
placed, the error will accumulate and continue in adjacent tiles
such that the installation will be unacceptable and the tiles will
have to be replaced and/or ground and polished until the tiles are
level or flat. In addition to aesthetic reasons for properly laying
tile, a level surface is essential in tile floors so that people do
not trip and fall on unevenly laid tiles. Replacing or otherwise
correcting errors in tile installation takes time that adds to the
total cost of the tile installation. Therefore, there remains a
need for a new and improved leveling spacer that has a simple
structure and easy to use to overcome the problems stated
above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
leveling spacer that is easy and intuitive to use both in the step
of assembly for the immobilization of the tiles, and in the step of
removal for the subsequent filling of the gaps.
[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
leveling spacer that can be used without subjecting the tiles to an
unwanted lateral thrust that risks affecting the correct
positioning thereof.
[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
leveling spacer which can be used simply by manually screwing the
pressure applicator on the threaded stem.
[0009] In one aspect, a leveling spacer may include a base, a
connecting piece having a breakage portion, a threaded shaft and a
pressure applicator. In one embodiment, the breakage portion of the
connecting piece is disposed at right angles to the base, and the
other end thereof is connected with the threaded shaft. The
pressure applicator is configured to engage and remove the threaded
shaft, and more specifically, the pressure applicator may include a
female threaded chamber to correspondingly engage with the threaded
shaft to allow easy and quick insertion or removal of the pressure
applicator. It is noted that the breakage portion can be relatively
weaker with reduced thickness for instance, so it is breakable
following an external force of a minor extent.
[0010] In one embodiment, the pressure applicator can be made by
Nylon and glass fiber, and is configured to engage with and rotate
on the threaded shaft to apply pressure to immobilize and level
different types of substrate surfaces including, but not limited to
porcelain, ceramics and nature stone. In another embodiment, the
pressure applicator 140 can be made by pure plastic materials.
[0011] When in use, one or more leveling spacers can be arranged
below the tiles (not shown) through the base. The pressure
applicator can then be disposed on each leveling spacer, and engage
with the threaded shaft with the female threaded chamber, so the
pressure applicator can rotate on the threaded shaft to apply
pressure to immobilize and level the tiles.
[0012] The pressure applicator can be further rotated on the
threaded shaft in the same direction to remove the threaded shaft
from the base. More specifically, as discussed above, the breakage
portion is relatively weaker, so the force of continuing to rotate
the pressure applicator on the threaded shaft would likely cause
the breakage of the connecting piece from the breakage portion.
Namely, the threaded shaft along with the connecting piece can be
both removed from the base.
[0013] In one embodiment, the pressure applicator may further
include a guiding channel that can be used after the removal of the
connecting piece and the threaded shaft. More specifically, the
guiding channel can be used to guide different types of connecting
pieces out of the pressure applicator after the removal process. It
is noted that after the removal of the connecting piece and the
threaded shaft out from the pressure applicator, the pressure
applicator should be reusable.
[0014] In another embodiment, the threaded shaft may have a top
edge that has a predetermined angle to allow the pressure
applicator to easily insert and remove from the shaft. The pressure
applicator may have a guiding surface that is configured to guide
the top edge into the female threaded chamber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the leveling spacer in the
present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of the leveling spacer
in the present invention when the pressure applicator rotates
down.
[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the leveling
spacer in the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a schematic view after the connecting piece and
the threaded shaft are removed from the base in the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 5 illustrates different types of connecting pieces in
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The detailed description set forth below is intended as a
description of the presently exemplary device provided in
accordance with aspects of the present invention and is not
intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention
may be prepared or utilized. It is to be understood, rather, that
the same or equivalent functions and components may be accomplished
by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed
within the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0021] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms
used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of
ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although
any methods, devices and materials similar or equivalent to those
described can be used in the practice or testing of the invention,
the exemplary methods, devices and materials are now described.
[0022] All publications mentioned are incorporated by reference for
the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the designs
and methodologies that are described in the publications that might
be used in connection with the presently described invention. The
publications listed or discussed above, below and throughout the
text are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing
date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed
as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate
such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.
[0023] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims
that follow, the meaning of "a", "an", and "the" includes reference
to the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also,
as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that
follow, the terms "comprise or comprising", "include or including",
"have or having", "contain or containing" and the like are to be
understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not
limited to. As used in the description herein and throughout the
claims that follow, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on"
unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0024] It will be understood that, although the terms first,
second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these
elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only
used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first
element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second
element could be termed a first element, without departing from the
scope of the embodiments. As used herein, the term "and/or"
includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated
listed items.
[0025] In one aspect, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a leveling spacer
100 may include a base 110, a connecting piece 120 having a
breakage portion 121, a threaded shaft 130, and a pressure
applicator 140. In one embodiment, the breakage portion 121 of the
connecting piece 120 is disposed at right angles to the base 110,
and the other end thereof is connected with the threaded shaft 130.
The pressure applicator 140 is configured to engage and remove the
threaded shaft 130, and more specifically, the pressure applicator
140 may include a female threaded chamber 142 to correspondingly
engage with the threaded shaft 130 to allow easy and quick
insertion or removal of the pressure applicator 140. It is noted
that the breakage portion 121 can be relatively weaker with reduced
thickness for instance, so it is breakable following an external
force of a minor extent.
[0026] In one embodiment, the pressure applicator 140 can be made
by Nylon and glass fiber, and is configured to engage with and
rotate on the threaded shaft 130 to apply pressure to immobilize
and level different types of substrate surfaces including, but not
limited to porcelain, ceramics and nature stone. In another
embodiment, the pressure applicator 140 can be made by pure plastic
materials.
[0027] When in use, one or more leveling spacers 100 can be
arranged below the tiles (not shown) through the base 110. The
pressure applicator 140 can then be disposed on each leveling
spacer 100 as shown in FIG. 1, and engage with the threaded shaft
130 with the female threaded chamber 142, so the pressure
applicator 140 can rotate on the threaded shaft 130 to apply
pressure to immobilize and level the tiles as shown in FIG. 2.
[0028] The pressure applicator 140 can be further rotated at the
end of the threaded shaft 130 in the same direction to remove the
threaded shaft 130 from the base 110. More specifically, as
discussed above, the breakage portion 121 is relatively weaker, so
the external force of continuing to rotate the pressure applicator
140 on the threaded shaft 130 would likely cause the breakage of
the connecting piece 120 from the breakage portion 121. Namely, the
threaded shaft 130 along with the connecting piece 120 can be both
removed from the base 110 as shown in FIG. 4.
[0029] In one embodiment, the pressure applicator 140 may further
include one or more guiding channels 141 that can be used after the
removal of the connecting piece 120 and the threaded shaft 130.
More specifically, the guiding channels 141 can be used to guide
different types of connecting pieces (X-shaped, T-shaped and
standard as 120) as shown in FIG. 5 out of the pressure applicator
140 after the removal process. It is noted that after the removal
of the connecting piece 120 and the threaded shaft 130 out from the
pressure applicator 140, the pressure applicator 140 should be
reusable.
[0030] In another embodiment, the threaded shaft 130 may have a top
edge 131 that has a predetermined angle to allow the pressure
applicator 140 to easily insert and remove from the shaft 130. The
pressure applicator 140 may have a guiding surface 143 that is
configured to guide the top edge 131 into the female threaded
chamber 142.
[0031] Having described the invention by the description and
illustrations above, it should be understood that these are
exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as
limiting. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as
limited by the foregoing description, but includes any
equivalent.
* * * * *