Spacer

Abstract

The invention relates to a spacer for keeping a wall connection-side joint free, for example when laying a rigid floor covering, comprising a spacer element (2, 2.1) with a thickness, which corresponds to the width of the joint to be kept free, and an angle bracket (3, 3.1) with a strip-shaped holding limb (4, 4.1) and a holding shaft (5, 5.1) which is connected to the holding limb (4, 4.1) at the end thereof and which protrudes from the holding limb (3, 3.1). A bore (7) which extends in the vertical direction of the spacer element and into which the holding shaft (5, 5.1) engages is introduced into the spacer element (2, 2.1).

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A spacer for keeping clear a gap on a wall-connection side when installing a rigid floor covering, comprising: a spacer element with a thickness equaling a width of the gap to be kept clear, and a bracket with a strip-shaped support shank for reaching under the installed floor covering, whose width is less than the gap, and with a support shaft connected at one end of the support shank and projecting from the support shank, wherein the spacer element has a drill hole extending in a vertical direction, into which drill hole the support shaft extends, and wherein the spacer element and the bracket are detachable from one another, or an end section of the support shaft opposite the support shank has a rotary drive contour.

14. The spacer of claim 13, wherein the drill hole of the spacer element for receiving the support shaft extends through the spacer element, and a length of the support shaft substantially equals a height of the spacer element.

15. The spacer of claim 13, wherein the drill hole of the spacer element for receiving the support shaft extends through the spacer element, the support shaft of the bracket extends through the drill hole, and the support shaft projects with the end section from the drill hole.

16. The spacer of claim 13, wherein the rotary drive contour is an outer polygonal contour.

17. The spacer of claim 16, wherein another rotary drive contour complementary to the rotary drive contour of the support shaft is arranged in a narrow edge of the spacer element.

18. The spacer of claim 13, wherein the rotary drive contour of the end section of the support shaft is angled relative to another section of the support shaft which extends through the drill hole of the spacer element.

19. The spacer of claim 18, wherein an angled direction of the end section of the support shaft is provided in the same direction in which the support shank projects from the support shaft.

20. The spacer of claim 13, wherein the spacer element is a cuboid body or designed as a spacer plate.

21. The spacer of claim 13, wherein the spacer element has two parallel spacer surfaces.

22. The spacer of claim 13, wherein the spacer element is a plastic part.

23. The spacer of claim 13, wherein the bracket is a metal part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The descriptions below utilize example embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a spacer according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the spacer of FIG. 1, positioned on a floor-side wall connection,

[0015] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section in the planar extension of a spacer plate of a further spacer, and

[0016] FIG. 4 shows a partially cut perspective view of a further spacer according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] A spacer 1 is used to keep a gap at the wall-connection side clear in connection with the installation of a rigid floor covering. The spacer 1 comprises a cuboid spacer plate 2 as a spacer element, which in the example embodiment shown is a cuboid plastic block. The width of the spacer plate 2 matches the gap width of a rigid floor covering to be kept clear opposite a wall. The width of the spacer plate shown in FIG. 1 is 15 mm. Furthermore, spacer 1 is associated with a bracket 3, whereof only the support shank 4 is visible in the view of FIG. 1. The support shank 4 is strip-shaped and has a thickness of about 2 mm. The support shank is a sheet steel part. Furthermore, the thickness of the support shank may be different, in particular the support shank 4 may also be thinner. When using the spacer 1, while installing a rigid floor covering, such as a laminate, the support shank 4 reaches below the edge laminate panel. A support shaft 5 is molded onto the support shank 4 of the bracket 3, as shown in FIG. 2. In the embodiment shown, the support shaft 5 is designed as a hexagonal shaft.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows the spacer 1 in a sectional view, in which it is used to keep a gap clear. The support shank 4 of the bracket 3 rests on the floor 6. The spacer plate 2 has a hole 7 drilled into its lower longitudinal narrow side and is placed together with it on the support shaft 5. The spacer plate 2 is supported on the rear side by a wall 8 adjoining the floor 6, opposite which the gap is to be kept clear. As can be seen from the perspective illustration in FIG. 1, spacer 1 cannot fall over due to the support shank 4 of its bracket 3 projecting from the planar extension of spacer plate 3. Subsequently, a laminated panel 9 is placed on support shank 4, with its front side facing the wall 8 pushed against the corresponding spacer-plate 2 surface. Moreover, during this operation, its safe positioning ensures that there is no risk of the spacer 1 not remaining in place and tipping over.

[0019] If the floor covering has been installed and the spacers 1 are to be removed, then the spacer plate 2 is first removed from the support shaft 5 of the respective bracket 3. Using the polygonal contour of the support shaft 5, bracket 3 may then be pivoted around the longitudinal axis of its support shaft 5 in order to rotate the support shank 4 out from its position reaching under the laminate panel 9, until its longitudinal axis is approximately aligned with the longitudinal axis of spacer plate 2 prior to removal. Bracket 3 can then be retracted from the gap. Thus, the width of the support shank 4 is smaller than the gap to be installed.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a further spacer plate in a section within its longitudinal plane 2.1. In principle, it is designed similar to spacer plate 2, but differs in that its drill hole 7.1 extends through the spacer plate 2.1 as a whole. In addition, the spacer plate 2.1 has a contour 10 extending parallel to a narrow-sided termination and passing through the spacer plate 2.1 as a whole, and is designed as an inner polygonal contour complementary to the hexagonal contour of the support shaft 5 of bracket 3. The contour 10 can thus be fitted onto the upper section of the support shaft 5, and the spacer plate 2.1 may be used as a tool for swiveling the support shank 4 out of its position reaching below the laminate panel 9.

[0021] Obviously, such a complementary contour, as described for spacer plate 2.1, may also be part of the spacer plate 2 in FIG. 1.

[0022] Because of through-hole 7.1, the spacer plate 2.1 may be fitted on the support shaft 5 of bracket 3 with either of its narrow sides facing downward.

[0023] The clearance width of drill hole 7 or 7.1 is adjusted to match the outer circumferential surface of support shaft 5, such that a certain amount of play between these two elements remains.

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a spacer 1.1. Spacer 1.1 has a spacer plate 2.1, as described above for FIG. 3. The bracket 3.1 of spacer 1.1 differs from bracket 3 of the embodiments in FIGS. 1 and 2, in that its support shaft 5.1 passes through the drill hole 7.1 as a whole, and an adjusting handle 11 is attached to the free section projecting from spacer plate 2.1. The adjusting handle 11 projects from support shank 5.1 in the same direction as the support shank 4.1. Thus, the position of the adjusting handle 11 may be used to detect the direction in which the support shank 4.1 reaches under a floor covering resting thereon. By pivoting the adjusting handle 11, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4, the support shank 4.1 is similarly pivoted. For this purpose, the adjusting handle 11 and the support shank 4.1 are obviously attached non-rotatably to support shaft 5.1.

[0025] The invention is described by means of exemplary embodiments. Without departing from the scope of the claims, numerous other options and possibilities are available to a person skilled in the art for implementing the inventive concept without these needing to be presented in more detail in the context of this disclosure.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0026] 1,1.1 Spacer [0027] 2, 2.1 Spacer plate [0028] 3, 3.1 Bracket [0029] 4, 4.1 Support shank [0030] 5, 5.1 Support shaft [0031] 6 Floor [0032] 7, 7.1 Drill hole [0033] 8 Wall [0034] 9 Laminated panel [0035] 10 Contour [0036] 11 Adjusting handle