PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR CERAMIC PIECES

Abstract

The present invention relates to a protective device for ceramic pieces, said device suitable for resting on the upper surface of at least two ceramic pieces (40, 41) and which forms a bearing surface for a tightening element (204, 305) of a spacer-leveller device (20, 30) for ceramic pieces. The protective device comprises: a lower bearing surface (101) on the ceramic pieces (40, 41) to be installed; an upper surface (102) comprising a first circular track (106) for possible bearing of a first threaded tightening element (204) of a first spacer-leveller device (20); a second diametrical track (109), forming a possible bearing surface, with the possibility of longitudinal displacement, for a second tightening element (305), by way of a wedge, of a second spacer-leveller device (30); and a lateral surface (103) with projections (104) for manually holding the protective device (10).

Claims

1. A protective device for ceramic pieces, suitable for resting on an upper surface of at least two ceramic pieces and forming a bearing surface of a tightening element of a spacer-leveller device for ceramic pieces, comprising: a base, a separator of the ceramic pieces and a structure on which said tightening element acts; a lower bearing surface on the ceramic pieces to be installed, an upper surface comprising: at least two first appendages protruding upwardly, in a circular arrangement, which externally delimit a first circular track, configured to allow for rotation, of a first threaded tightening element of a first spacer-leveller device; and at least two diametrically opposed side openings; at least two second appendages protruding towards the upper area, arranged parallel and delimiting a second diametrical track, aligned with lateral openings and forming a bearing surface, providing longitudinal displacement, of a second tightening element, by way of a wedge, of a second spacer-leveller device and; a lateral surface provided with at least one pair of projections, diametrically opposed, for manually holding the protective device during threaded tightening of the first spacer-leveller device.

2. The protective device according to claim 1, wherein the protective device is disk-shaped, defining a circular contour.

3. The protective device according to claim 1, further comprising a centrally-located first groove parallel to the second track, configured to mount on the first spacer-leveller device, and a second groove, perpendicular to said first groove and configured to mount on the second spacer-leveller device.

4. The protective device according to claim 1, wherein a first track and the second track comprise polished areas, with a low coefficient of friction, which form bearing and sliding surfaces of the first and second tightening elements respectively.

5. The protective device according to claim 1, wherein the lateral surface comprises two pairs of projections diametrically opposed and perpendicular two by two.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] 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:

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the protective device for ceramic pieces, according to the invention.

[0020] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the paths of the protective device for ceramic pieces of FIG. 1 seen, respectively, in top plan and in profile.

[0021] FIGS. 4 and 5 show paths seen in top plan and elevation views of the protective device for ceramic pieces of the previous figures in a position of use, together with a first spacer-leveller device provided with a first threaded tightening element.

[0022] FIGS. 6 and 7 show paths seen in top plan and profile views of the protective device of the previous figures in a position of use together with a second spacer-leveller device provided with a second tightening element in the manner of a wedge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] In the exemplary embodiment shown in the attached figures, the protective device (10) for ceramic pieces comprises a flat lower surface (101), an upper surface (102) provided with first appendages (105) and second appendages (108) protruding towards the upper area, and a substantially circular lateral surface (103), provided in this case with two pairs of diametrically opposed and perpendicular projections (104) two by two, which allows the effort required to tighten to be considerably reduced.

[0024] The first appendages (105) externally delimit a first circular track (106) and two diametrically opposed lateral openings (107).

[0025] The second appendages (108) laterally delimit a second track (109) oriented in the diametral direction and aligned with the lateral openings (107) delimited by the first appendages (105).

[0026] This protective device (10) comprises in its central area a first groove (110) parallel to the second track (109) for mounting on a first spacer-leveller device (20) and a second groove (111) perpendicular to the previous one and suitable for mounting on a second spacer-leveller device (30), as will be explained below.

[0027] The protective device (10) also has through holes (112) to reduce the weight of the protective device (10) and the material necessary for its manufacture, especially taking into account that the first appendages (105) and the second appendages (108) additionally act as reinforcing elements of the protective device.

[0028] FIGS. 4 and 5 show the protective device (10) in a position of use, during the installation of two ceramic pieces (40, 41) and their spacing and leveling by means of a first spacer-leveller device (20) provided with: a base (201) located below the ceramic pieces (40, 41), a separator (202) that is located between the opposite ends of said ceramic pieces, determining the separation between them, and a structure (203), represented in this case by a threaded rod, on which a first tightening element (204) is mounted, made up of a threaded bell that exerts pressure on the first track (106) of the protective device (10) arranged between the upper surfaces of the ceramic pieces (40, 41) and said first tightening element (204).

[0029] The protective device (10) prevents the first tightening element (204) from coming into direct contact with the upper surfaces of the ceramic pieces (40, 41), which could cause them to be scratched or damaged. In addition, in this case, the pairs of projections (104), facing each other diametrically, allow the manual holding of the protective device (10) to be carried out comfortably, preventing it from rotating dragged by the first tightening element (204) and preventing the protective device itself (10) from damaging the surface of the ceramic pieces (40, 41).

[0030] As can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the characteristics of the protective device (10) also allow its use with a second spacer-leveller device (30) that can be actuated by means of a second tightening element (305) formed by a wedge that is displaced longitudinally on the second diametric track (109) of the protective device (10); said protective device (10) preventing direct contact of the second tightening element (305) against the upper surface of the ceramic pieces (40, 41).

[0031] In this case, the second spacer-leveller device (30) comprises, as in the previous case: a base (301) located below the ceramic pieces (40, 41), a separator (302) arranged between the ends facing each other of said ceramic pieces (40, 41) and a structure (303) that protrudes above the ceramic pieces and which, in this case, is made up of a plate provided with a window (304) into which the second wedge-shaped tightening element (305) is progressively introduced when being displaced longitudinally on the second diametrical track (109) of the protective device (10), said second tightening element (305) pressing the protective device (10) against the upper surface of the ceramic pieces (40, 41), to achieve their leveling.

[0032] As can be seen more clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first track (106) and the second track (109) comprise polished areas (106a, 109a), with a low coefficient of friction.

[0033] These polished areas (106a, 109a) form bearing and sliding surfaces of the tightening element (204, 305) of the first and second spacer-leveller device (20, 30) respectively, and allow the wear due to friction of said tightening elements to be reduced during their displacement on the protective device (10), extending the useful life of said tightening elements (204, 305) and the number of possible reuses thereof.

[0034] 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.