LEVELER FOR TILES

Abstract

Disclosed is a leveler to make coplanar the faces of two adjacent tiles (P) without using pincers or other tools. The leveler uses a disposable element and a wedge to be inserted in the disposable element, so as to push down the tiles and make them coplanar.

Claims

1. Leveler (10) for tiles, suitable for being used by a user to make coplanar the faces of two adjacent tiles (P), comprising a disposable element (12) and a wedge (14); the disposable element (12) comprising a base (16) from which a first arm (22) and a second arm (24) rise perpendicularly and are joined at the top to a lamella (28), so as to form an opening (33) among the base (16), the first arm (22), the second arm (24) and the lamella (28); the wedge (14) comprising a ramp body (46) with a flat lower face (47) and an inclined upper face (50); the disposable element (12) being adapted to be arranged between the two tiles (P); the wedge (14) being adapted to be inserted into the opening (33) over the tiles (P) so as to abut against the lamella (28) with the inclined upper face (50) and push downwards the two tiles (P) with the flat lower face (47); wherein a tongue (40) protrudes downwards from the lamella (28) in the opening (33) and has a free end with a lower face (64) on one side and is fixed to the lamella (28) on the other side so as to be flexible and inclinable, and wherein a sawtooth portion (56) is formed on the inclined upper face (50) and has teeth (58) with which the free end of the tongue (40) can come into contact, so that when the wedge (14) is pushed inside the opening (33), the tongue (40) slides on the sawtooth portion (56), and that when the wedge (14) tries to get out, the free end of the tongue (40) abuts on one of the teeth (58) and prevents the wedge (14) from leaving the opening (33).

2. The leveler (10) according to claim 1, wherein the teeth (58) comprise a first face (60) which is perpendicular to the inclined upper face (50) and a second face (62) which is inclined as the inclined upper face (50).

3. The leveler (10) according to claim 1, wherein the tongue (40) is fixed to the lamella (28) through a thinned portion (44) so as to be easily flexed.

4. The leveler (10) according to claim 1, wherein an arched element (48) is joined to the end of the ramp body (46) having maximum height.

5. The leveler (10) according to claim 1, wherein a first cylindrical body (36; 38) protrudes from the lamella (28) downwards in the opening (33), the main axis of the cylindrical body (36; 38) being parallel to the faces of the tiles (P) and wherein a first smooth lateral portion (52; 54) is formed on the inclined upper face (50) and the first cylindrical body (36; 38) can slide on said smooth lateral portion (52, 54).

6. The leveler (10) according to claim 5, wherein a first cylindrical body (36) and a second cylindrical body (38) protrude from the lamella (36) downwards in the opening (33) and the main axis of both cylindrical bodies is parallel to the faces of the tiles (P), and the tongue (40) is arranged between said cylindrical bodies, and wherein a first smooth lateral portion (52) and a second smooth lateral portion (54) are formed on the inclined upper surface (50), the sawtooth portion (56) being arranged between said smooth lateral portions (52, 54), the first cylindrical body (36) and the second cylindrical body (38) being slidable on said smooth lateral portions (52, 54), respectively.

7. The leveler (10) according to claim 6, wherein the first cylindrical body (36) and the second cylindrical body (38) are connected to each other through an arched body (42).

8. The leveler (10) according to claim 1, wherein the lamella (28) includes a frame (30) that develops around a lamina (34) with a thickness lower than that of the frame (30).

9. The leveler (10) according to claim 1, wherein at least one recess (18) is formed in the base (16) of the disposable element (12).

10. The leveler (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first arm (22) and the second arm (24) are connected through a section with a reduced thickness (26) to the base (16).

11. The leveler (10) according to claim 2, wherein the tongue (40) is fixed to the lamella (28) through a thinned portion (44) so as to be easily flexed.

12. The leveler (10) according to claim 2, wherein an arched element (48) is joined to the end of the ramp body (46) having maximum height.

13. The leveler (10) according to claim 3, wherein an arched element (48) is joined to the end of the ramp body (46) having maximum height.

14. The leveler (10) according to claim 11, wherein an arched element (48) is joined to the end of the ramp body (46) having maximum height.

15. The leveler (10) according to claim 2, wherein a first cylindrical body (36; 38) protrudes from the lamella (28) downwards in the opening (33), the main axis of the cylindrical body (36; 38) being parallel to the faces of the tiles (P) and wherein a first smooth lateral portion (52; 54) is formed on the inclined upper face (50) and the first cylindrical body (36; 38) can slide on said smooth lateral portion (52, 54).

16. The leveler (10) according to claim 2, wherein a first cylindrical body (36; 38) protrudes from the lamella (28) downwards in the opening (33), the main axis of the cylindrical body (36; 38) being parallel to the faces of the tiles (P) and wherein a first smooth lateral portion (52; 54) is formed on the inclined upper face (50) and the first cylindrical body (36; 38) can slide on said smooth lateral portion (52, 54).

17. The leveler (10) according to claim 3, wherein a first cylindrical body (36; 38) protrudes from the lamella (28) downwards in the opening (33), the main axis of the cylindrical body (36; 38) being parallel to the faces of the tiles (P) and wherein a first smooth lateral portion (52; 54) is formed on the inclined upper face (50) and the first cylindrical body (36; 38) can slide on said smooth lateral portion (52, 54).

18. The leveler (10) according to claim 4, wherein a first cylindrical body (36; 38) protrudes from the lamella (28) downwards in the opening (33), the main axis of the cylindrical body (36; 38) being parallel to the faces of the tiles (P) and wherein a first smooth lateral portion (52; 54) is formed on the inclined upper face (50) and the first cylindrical body (36; 38) can slide on said smooth lateral portion (52, 54).

19. The leveler (10) according to claim 11, wherein a first cylindrical body (36; 38) protrudes from the lamella (28) downwards in the opening (33), the main axis of the cylindrical body (36; 38) being parallel to the faces of the tiles (P) and wherein a first smooth lateral portion (52; 54) is formed on the inclined upper face (50) and the first cylindrical body (36; 38) can slide on said smooth lateral portion (52, 54).

20. The leveler (10) according to claim 12, wherein a first cylindrical body (36; 38) protrudes from the lamella (28) downwards in the opening (33), the main axis of the cylindrical body (36; 38) being parallel to the faces of the tiles (P) and wherein a first smooth lateral portion (52; 54) is formed on the inclined upper face (50) and the first cylindrical body (36; 38) can slide on said smooth lateral portion (52, 54).

Description

[0033] Further features and details of the invention can be better understood from the following specification which is provided by way of a non-restricting example, as well as from the annexed drawing, wherein:

[0034] FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a wedge leveler, made according to the invention, used to make two tiles coplanar and comprising a disposable element and a wedge;

[0035] FIG. 2 is an axonometric view of the disposable element of a leveler according to the invention;

[0036] FIG. 3 is a lateral view of the disposable element of FIG. 2 viewed in section according to a transverse plane;

[0037] FIG. 4 is the view of a detail shown by A in FIG. 3;

[0038] FIG. 5 is an axonometric view of the wedge of a leveler according to the invention;

[0039] FIG. 6 is a frontal view of the wedge of FIG. 5;

[0040] FIG. 7 is a side view of the wedge of FIG. 5 viewed in section according to the plane B-B of FIG. 6;

[0041] FIG. 8 is the view of a detail shown as C in FIG. 7;

[0042] FIG. 9 is an axonometric view of a leveler formed by the disposable element of FIG. 2 and the wedge of FIG. 5, cooperating with each other;

[0043] FIG. 10 is a top view of the leveler in FIG. 9;

[0044] FIG. 11 is a lateral view of the leveler in FIG. 9 viewed in section according to the plane D-D in FIG. 10;

[0045] FIG. 12 is the view of a detail shown by and in FIG. 11.

[0046] With reference to the attached figures, in particular to FIGS. 1 and 9, 10 indicates a leveler, comprising a disposable element 12 and a wedge 14 cooperating with each other.

[0047] In particular, the disposable element 12 is placed between two tiles P and the wedge 14 is inserted in the disposable element 12 in order to push the faces of the two tiles P and make them coplanar.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, the disposable element 12 comprises a base 16 having an irregular octagonal perimeter and in which two recesses 18 are obtained and are positioned symmetrically to each other.

[0049] A relief 20 with a triangular section protrudes from the base 16 in correspondence with the line of symmetry in respect of which the two recesses 18 are placed.

[0050] A first arm 22 and a second arm 24 rise from the opposite side ends of the relief 20 to which they are joined with a section of reduced thickness 26.

[0051] The first arm 22 and the second arm 24 are joined—at the top—to a lamella 28 comprising a peripheral frame 30, closed at the bottom by a crossbeam 32.

[0052] In this way the first arm 22, the second arm 24, the lamella 28 and the base 16 define a opening 33.

[0053] The frame 30 and the crossbeam 32 close a lamina 34 of reduced thickness.

[0054] The crossbeam 32 comprises a first cylindrical body 36 adjacent to the first arm 22, and a second cylindrical body 38 adjacent to the second arm 24.

[0055] A tongue 40 is placed between the first cylindrical body 36 and the second cylindrical body 38; said tongue protrudes down into the opening 33.

[0056] The first cylindrical body 36 and the second cylindrical body 38 are joined together through an arched body 42 to which the tongue 40 is fixed by a thin section 44.

[0057] As shown in the figures from 5 to 8, the wedge 14 comprises a ramp body 46 which ends with an arched element 48 having an arched profile around a vertical axis with respect to the supporting surface of the wedge 14.

[0058] II ramp body 46 has a planar lower face 47 and an inclined upper face 50 which is divided in a first lateral portion 52, a second lateral portion 54 and a sawtooth portion 56 placed between the first lateral portion 52 and the second lateral portion 54.

[0059] The first lateral portion 52 and the second lateral portion 54 are smooth.

[0060] The sawtooth portion 56 comprises some teeth 58 (of which only one is shown in FIG. 8) each one having a first face 60 perpendicular to the inclined upper face 50 and a second face 62 with an inclination which is concordant—specifically greater than—with the inclination of the inclined upper face 50 itself.

[0061] As shown in the FIGS. 1 and from 9 to 12, when an operator has to lay tiles, fix them to the screed using a glue, and place them all coplanar, he/she places a disposable element 12 between each pair of adjacent P tiles.

[0062] The base 16 is placed is placed below the two tiles P between which the disposable element 12 is placed, drowned in the adhesive also thanks to the presence of recesses 18.

[0063] The upper portions of the first arm 22 and the second arm 24 and the lamella 28 protrude from the gap between the two tiles.

[0064] The wedge 14 is inserted in the opening 33 which rises above the tiles P and it is pushed as far as possible into the same opening 33.

[0065] The insertion of the wedge 14 in the opening 33 of the disposable element 12 is rather convenient, since the operator can act simply by bringing his thumb and index finger closer together, pushing on one side the lamella 28 of the disposable element 12 and on the other side the arched element 48 of the wedge 14.

[0066] During insertion and thrust, the movement of the wedge 14 is not hindered in any way by the conformation of the disposable element 12; in fact, the first cylindrical body 36 and the second cylindrical body 38 slip respectively on the first lateral portion 52 and on the second lateral portion 54, without hindering this movement of the wedge 14.

[0067] Similarly, as can be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, also the tongue 40 does not resist the insertion of the wedge 14 in the opening 33 of the disposable element 12, since it bends thanks to the presence of the thin section 44, tilting in agreement with the inclination of the inclined upper face 50 of the wedge 14. In addition, the tongue 40 also slides on the sawtooth portion 56 thanks to the shape of the teeth 58, in particular, thanks to the inclination of the second face 62, which is concordant with the inclination of the tongue 40 when in contact with the same inclined upper face 50.

[0068] Besides, the tongue 40 can tilt by a variable angle, depending on the distance of the inclined upper face 50 from the lamella 28.

[0069] Differently, when the wedge 14 has sufficiently pushed down the tiles P to make them coplanar, it may and must remain fixed in place with respect to the disposable element 12, as long as the adhesive has dried and the tiles P are fixed in their final position.

[0070] This position is always obtained thanks to the conformation of teeth 58, in particular of the first face 60 of each of them, first face which is perpendicular to the inclined upper face 50 of wedge 14.

[0071] In fact, in case the wedge 14 wants to move in the opposite direction to the insertion direction, the lower face 64 of the tongue 40 beats against the first face of one of the teeth 58, blocking in position the same wedge 14.

[0072] When the adhesive is dry and the tiles P fixed to the screed are coplanar with each other, the operator can detach the upper part of the disposable element 12, i.e. the lamella 28, the first arm 22 and the second arm 24, from the base 16, said breaking being permitted by the section 26 of reduced thickness which connects the arms 22, 24 to the same base 16.

[0073] Finally, the operator can retrieve all the used wedges so that they can be used again.

[0074] So, unlike levelers according to the known technique, the insertion of the wedge in the disposable element is easy and does not require the use of additional tools, such as pliers or more.

[0075] A technician in the field may provide for modifications or variations that are deemed to fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0076] For example, a leveler according to the invention may include a disposable element with several tabs and, according to the invention, a wedge with several sawtooth portions or an enlarged saw portion.