DEVICE FOR LEVELLING AND SEPARATING FLOOR TILES

Abstract

A device for levelling and separating floor tiles, comprising:—a body with a supporting base (11) for the tiles (B) and a separator element (12) linked to said base (11) by pre-weakened break points (13), and—a levelling wedge (2) suited to be inserted into a window (14) in the separator element (12) and which comprises a lower surface (21) for support on the tiles (B) and an upper surface (22) with a plurality of teeth (26) presenting superiorly, in a transversal direction, a curvature, defining therein:—a higher central area (26a) for initial contact with a central part (14a) of the upper end of the window in the separator element (12) and—laterally descending areas (26b) for progressive contact with lateral parts (14b) that are more remote from said central part (14a) of the window (14).

Claims

1. A device for levelling and separating floor tiles, comprising: a body, with a “T” profile, provided with a supporting base for the tiles to be levelled and a separator element perpendicular to the base, linked to said base by pre-weakened break points, and provided with a window; and a levelling wedge configured to be inserted into the window in the separator element and comprising: a lower surface for support on the tiles to be levelled; an upper surface for thrusting the separator element in an upward direction, provided with a plurality of transversal teeth; a rear surface, and lateral surfaces; wherein the teeth present superiorly, in a transversal direction, a curvature, defining therein: a higher central area, forming an area for initial contact of the teeth with a central part of an upper end of the window in the separator element during a frontal insertion of the wedge into the window in the separator element; and laterally descending areas for progressive contact with lateral parts that are more remote from the central part of the upper end of said window.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the teeth include chamfered lateral ends, converging towards the upper area and ending at the respective ends of an upper edge.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the wedge comprises on both sides of the upper surface two longitudinal recesses delimiting on said upper surface a central longitudinal portion laterally separated from the lateral surfaces of the wedge and in which the teeth are defined.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the wedge comprises on the rear surface thereof a concave recess forming an ergonomic surface, configured for manual thrusting of the wedge.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the wedge comprises in a front area thereof a segment of decreasing width towards the front end thereof; and that defines in said wedge a front end of a width smaller than that of the window.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] As a complement to the description provided herein, and for the purpose of helping to make the features of the invention more readily understandable, the present specification is accompanied by a set of drawings which, by way of illustration and not limitation, represent the following:

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the device for levelling and separating floor tiles, according to the invention, in which the body and the wedge have been depicted separated or disassembled.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detail of a transversal section of the wedge, in which the curvature of the teeth in the transversal direction and the chamfered ends of the teeth can be seen.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a side-rear perspective view of the wedge.

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the device of the invention, in a position of use, during the levelling and separating of two floor tiles.

[0025] FIG. 5 corresponds to a profile view of FIG. 4, partially cross-sectioned.

[0026] FIG. 6 shows a front view of FIG. 4 in which the wedge has been vertically cross sectioned through a transversal plane, and an enlarged detail of one of the teeth and the upper end of the window in the separator element.

[0027] FIG. 7 shows an upper plan view of the wedge during insertion of the front end of the wedge at an oblique position into the window in the separator element; the maximum possible angles of insertion of the wedge with respect to the vertical median plane of the window being depicted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] As can be seen in FIG. 1 the device of the invention comprises a body (1) and a wedge (2).

[0029] The body (1), with a general “T” profile, comprises a base (11) and a separator element (12) perpendicular to the base (11), linked thereto by pre-weakened break points (13), and provided with a window (14).

[0030] The base (11) has on both sides of the separator element (12) two halves for supporting respective floor tiles (B) during the use of the device, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0031] The levelling wedge (2), suited to be inserted into the window (14) of the separator element (12), comprises a lower surface (21) for support on the tiles (B) to be levelled, an upper surface (22) suited for acting in an upward direction against the upper end of the window (14) in the separator element (12); a rear surface (23), and lateral surfaces (24).

[0032] As can be seen in the cross-sectioned detail of FIG. 2, the teeth (26) present superiorly, in the transversal direction, a curvature, defining therein a higher central area (26a) and laterally descending areas (26b).

[0033] The teeth (26) present chamfered lateral ends (26c), converging towards the upper area, which contribute to improve stress distribution and to prevent plasticisation of the material forming said teeth.

[0034] The wedge (2) presents on both sides of the upper surface (22) respective longitudinal recesses (25) laterally delimiting a central longitudinal portion in which the teeth (26) are defined and which is laterally separated from the vertical sides of the window (14) in the separator element during the use of the device.

[0035] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the wedge (2) presents on the rear surface (23) thereof a concave recess (23a), forming an ergonomic surface suited for manual thrusting of the wedge during the insertion thereof into the window (14) in the separator element (12) and the levelling of the floor tiles (B).

[0036] In the position of use of the device, shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, two floor tiles (B) are placed on the respective halves of the base (11) of the body (1) so that they make contact with the facing ends thereof against the opposite faces of the separator element (12), which defines the separation between said floor tiles (B).

[0037] When the wedge (2) is inserted into the window (14) in the separator element to perform levelling and separating of two floor tiles (B), a force perpendicular to the separator element is produced which causes a deformation of the separator element; and the teeth (26) initially make contact with the central area (26a) with a central part (14a) of the window (14) in the separator element (12) and progressively with the laterally descending areas (26b) thereof with lateral parts (14b) that are more remote from the central part (14a) of the upper end of said window (14).

[0038] In this way, during the insertion of the wedge (2) into the window (14), the stress increases as the wedge makes contact with the lateral parts (14b) that are more remote from the centre. This makes the stress distribution between the contact of the separator element (12) and the wedge (2) much more uniform than in wedges with flat teeth; improving the performance of the assembly and increasing the life of the wedge (2) which is the reusable part of the device.

[0039] By inserting the wedge (2) into the portion of the window (14) protruding above the floor tiles (B), and pressing it in a frontal direction, the successive teeth (26) act progressively, initially with the protruding central area (26a) thereof and then with the lateral areas (26b) thereof against the upper end of the window (14), causing the levelling of the floor tiles (B).

[0040] Subsequently, once the tiles (B) have been levelled and conveniently fixed, an additional thrusting force is applied on the wedge until the separator element (12) breaks through the pre-weakened break points (13) and separates from the base (11) of the body (1).

[0041] It is worth mentioning that although the wedge (2) has been depicted inclined at one angle, it works equally well at the opposite angle.

[0042] The wedge (2) comprises in the front area thereof a segment (27) of decreasing width in lateral direction, which defines in said wedge (2) a front end of a width appreciably smaller than that of the window (14) in the separator element. As shown in FIG. 7 this front segment (27) of decreasing width towards the front end of the wedge, allows the insertion of the wedge (2) into the window (14) forming an angle (a) of about 30° towards one or the other side with respect to the vertical median plane of the window (14), making it unnecessary that the wedge (4) has to be positioned perpendicular to the window to perform said insertion.

[0043] Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention, in addition to a preferred exemplary embodiment, it is hereby stated for the relevant purposes that the materials, shape, size and layout of the described elements may be modified, provided that it does not imply altering the essential features of the invention claimed below.