Floor tile leveling device

Abstract

A device for leveling floor tiles, comprising: a separator column and a threaded cover, the separator column comprising: a base component, a separator component and a threaded shaft; the threaded cover having: a hollow arched body, a lower cylindrical component, an upper hub having a central internal thread for assembling it on the threaded shaft, and a plurality of lateral openings separated by a plurality of ribs, the rib having a cross-section of a generally U-shaped structure and comprising: a smooth outer web without protruding wings or extensions, the width of which increases in a downward direction toward a first side end having a curved concave profile; first and second wings extending from the side ends of the web of the rib toward the interior of the cover and forming an ergonomic surface for applying pressure to the cover in the tightening and loosening directions of the cover.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a floor tile leveling device applicable to the construction field, which is suitable for making it more convenient to install leveling floor tiles according to a predetermined interval. Background Art

[0002] Various tile leveling devices are known that facilitate the coplanar arrangement of adjacent tiles with defined spacing or placement joints between adjacent tiles.

[0003] Document US2019093372A1 describes a device for leveling adjacent floor tiles, comprising: a cover having a rotating shaft, a circular base coaxial with the rotating shaft, a threaded opening formed in the cover and aligned with the rotating shaft, a plurality of openings passing through the cover, and a separation column having a base and a threaded column extending from the base and having a size matching the threaded opening.

[0004] The base of the separation post is positioned below the adjacent tiles to be leveled, so that the same lower portion is positioned between the tiles, and a threaded post protrudes from the top to allow for threaded assembly of the cap. When the cap is tightened onto the threaded post, the cap simultaneously presses against the upper surface of the tile to level or align it coplanarly, preventing flanges or protrusions from forming at different heights at opposite ends.

[0005] Document US9,322,185B1 describes a floor tile flange removal device, which, like the aforementioned device, comprises: a separation column having a base component, a separator component and a threaded shaft, and a threaded cover having an internal thread formed on a central hole of the cover and having a size that can be threadedly connected to the threaded shaft.

[0006] The device further includes an anti-friction protection plate having an opening with two opposing slots sized to receive the outer periphery of the separation post and the threaded shaft. The anti-friction protection plate is configured to contact the upper surface of the floor tile and not rotate to prevent lateral movement of the floor tile due to rotation of the cover during tightening.

[0007] Document US9,279,259B1 describes a floor tile flange removal device, comprising: a separation column having a base member and a threaded shaft, the threaded shaft having a lower portion extending from an upper portion of the base member; a threaded cover comprising: a substantially conical portion having a plurality of openings and a plurality of ribs arranged between the openings, and a hub extending from an upper portion of the substantially conical portion and having an internal thread in the center for assembling the cover on the threaded shaft of the separation column and tightening the cover to the upper surface of the floor tile to be leveled.

[0008] In the above-mentioned device, the cover is assembled on the threaded shaft of the separator and screwed onto the tile to be leveled by manual tightening, using two fingers acting on a pair of flat wings or radially projecting extensions of the ribs of the cover. The tightening of the cover by actuating the wings causes considerable fatigue to the operator, considering the large number of covers that must be tightened each working day.

[0009] The torque exerted by the fingers placed on the two opposite wings is transmitted from said wings to the lower part of the cover through two corresponding ribs. Considering that the movement of the threaded stud is carried out on a hub located at the upper end of the cover, this set of ribs must also withstand the compressive stress to which the cover is subjected during the process of tightening it onto the floor tile to be leveled.

[0010] The technical problem addressed by the present invention is to improve a floor tile leveling device of the above-mentioned type, while providing the cover with ergonomic features for increased comfort in use and for strengthening the structure. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The floor tile leveling device of the present invention includes: a separation column, which includes: a base component, a separator component and a threaded shaft, the threaded shaft having a lower portion extending from the upper portion of the base component; a threaded cover, which includes: a hollow body having a lower cylindrical component and an upper hub, the upper hub is centered on the axis of the lower cylindrical component and is centrally provided with an internal thread for assembling the cover on the threaded shaft of the separation column and tightening the cover to the upper surface of the floor tile to be leveled, a series of lateral openings and a plurality of ribs arranged between the lateral openings and extending from the lower cylindrical component to the upper hub.

[0012] In order to achieve the proposed object, the hollow body of the cover has an arched, curved convex outer surface, defined by ribs and which provides an advantageous compressive strength when it is pressed vertically on the tile to be leveled.

[0013] The rib has a basic U-shaped structural cross section, comprising:

[0014] a smooth outer side mesh without protruding actuation wings or extensions, said outer side mesh increasing in width in a downward direction toward a first side end having a curved concave profile;

[0015] a first wing extending from a first side end of the net toward an interior of the cover and forming a first curved concave surface in a corresponding opening for applying pressure to the cover in a corresponding tightening rotational direction of the threaded shaft; and

[0016] A second wing extends from a second side end of the web of the rib toward the interior of the cap and forms a substantially vertical surface in the corresponding opening for applying pressure to the cap in a corresponding loosening rotation direction of the threaded shaft.

[0017] The U-shaped cross section of the rib helps to improve its mechanical strength to resist vertical compression and lateral bending, optimizing the amount of material required to achieve high mechanical strength.

[0018] In addition, the curvature of the first side end of the rib web and the first wing extending from the first side end toward the interior of the cover provides an ergonomic surface for the first wing, and the curved concave shape comfortably supports the fingers during the process of turning the cover in the tightening direction, reducing finger and hand fatigue caused by the user continuously tightening the cover throughout the working day.

[0019] Since the first wing protrudes toward the interior of the cover, the large support surface provided by the first wing also increases the convenience of operation, thereby avoiding the protruding wing or extension becoming an obstacle when operating the cover.

[0020] It is worth mentioning that, for this purpose, it is conceivable that the length of the first wing, directed towards the inside of the cover, is greater than the length of the second wing, since the first wing will be subjected to greater forces during the screwing of the cover onto the tile surface to be leveled.

[0021] According to the invention, the first and second wings of the continuous rib are connected by lower and upper parts which also project towards the interior of the hollow body of the cover and which together with the wings form a continuous peripheral frame within the corresponding opening.

[0022] The continuity of the frame provides a high degree of resistance to deformation when acting on the first wing or the second wing to tighten or loosen the cover on the threaded shaft, and improves the comfort of use by limiting the vertical movement of the finger inserted into the corresponding opening in the upward and downward directions to drive the cover in any rotational direction.

[0023] Advantageously, the cover comprises two pairs of ribs regularly distributed on the cover and arranged perpendicularly in pairs, the ribs of each pair being arranged in planes parallel to mutually perpendicular radial planes, displaced in opposite directions relative to said radial planes, and the first wing of each rib being substantially aligned with said radial planes.

[0024] This feature also provides better positioning of the fingers within the relative openings during rotation of the cover, particularly in the tightening direction where greater force is required to press the cover against the upper surface of the tile to achieve leveling thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] As a supplement to the description provided of the invention, and in order to help make its features more easily understood, this specification is accompanied by a set of drawings which represent the following by way of illustration and not limitation.

[0026] Figure 1 A front view of an exemplary embodiment of a floor tile leveling device of the present invention is shown;

[0027] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 A top perspective view of the middle cover;

[0028] Figure 3 A top view of the lid is shown;

[0029] Figure 4 Shown with Figure 3 A front view of the cover corresponding to the position shown in FIG;

[0030] Figure 5 Showing along Figure 4 A plan view of the cover cut through the plane marked AA;

[0031] Figure 6 A bottom view of the cover shown in the previous figure is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Figure 1 A front view of an exemplary embodiment of a floor tile leveling device according to the present invention is shown, including a separation column 10 and a cover 20 .

[0033] The separation column 10 includes a base part 101 for positioning under the floor tiles to be leveled, a separator part 102 located between the opposite surfaces of adjacent floor tiles to define the spacing therebetween, and a threaded shaft 13 extending toward the upper area to form a threaded assembly for the cover 20, which is responsible for fastening the floor tiles to the base part 101 so that they are flat and have a spacing predetermined by the separator part 102.

[0034] from Figure 2 As can be seen in the figure, the cover 20 comprises a hollow body with an arched curved outer convex surface, the bottom end of which is a cylindrical part 201, and the top extends to a hub 202, which is centered on the axis of the cylindrical part 201.

[0035] like Figure 1 As shown, the center of the hub 202 has an internal thread 203 for threadedly assembling the cap 20 onto the threaded shaft 103 of the separation column 10. The hub 202 includes lateral grooves 204 on its outer surface to facilitate gripping the cap 20 during its assembly onto the threaded shaft 103 and even to apply a rotational motion during the initial screwing-in of the cap 20.

[0036] A series of lateral openings 205 are defined on the outer surface of the cover 20 , which are laterally spaced apart by the ribs 206 and extend from the lower cylindrical member 201 to the upper hub 202 .

[0037] Figure 3The top view of FIG. 2 more clearly shows the distribution of the four lateral openings 205 and the four ribs 206 arranged vertically in pairs on the surface of the cover 20.

[0038] Figure 5 Shown by Figure 4 The cross section of the cover 20 is taken along the AA horizontal plane.

[0039] As mentioned above Figure 5 As can be seen in the figure, the rib 206 has a substantially U-shaped cross section, which is formed by an outer net 207 and a first wing 208 and a second wing 209 extending from a first side end 210 and a second side end 211 of the net 207 toward the interior of the cover 20, respectively.

[0040] from Figure 3 and Figure 4 As can be seen more clearly in FIG, the web 207 of the rib 206 has a width that increases in a downward direction towards the first side end 210 and has a curved concave profile; while the second side end 211 of the rib 206 is substantially vertical.

[0041] The first wing 208 extends toward the interior of the cover 20, maintaining the first side end 210 of the corresponding rib 206 to be concave. The first wing 208 forms a first curved concave surface in the corresponding lateral opening 205, which is ergonomic. By inserting a finger into the lateral opening 205, pressure is applied to the cover 20 in the rotation direction of the threaded shaft 103 corresponding to tightening the cover 20.

[0042] Because the first wing 208 is subjected to greater force during the process of screwing the cover 20 onto the threaded shaft 103 of the separation column 10 and pressing the cylindrical part 201 against the upper surface of the floor tile to be leveled, the first wing 208 has a greater length than the second wing 209.

[0043] The second wing 209 extends from the second side end (211) of the net 207 of the corresponding rib 206 toward the interior of the cover 20, forming a substantially vertical surface inside the corresponding lateral opening 205 to apply pressure to the cover 20 in the rotational direction when released from the separation column 10.

[0044] Figure 2 and Figure 6 It is shown how a first wing 208 and a second wing 209 of a continuous rib 206 are connected by a lower portion 212 and an upper portion 213 protruding towards the interior of the hollow body and, together with said wings 208 , 209 , form a continuous peripheral frame within the respective lateral opening 205 .

[0045] Figure 3It is shown that each pair of opposing ribs 206 is arranged corresponding to a respective plane, parallel to a respective radial plane (X, Y), and shifted in opposite directions relative to the corresponding radial plane (X, Y), and the first wing 208 of each rib 206 remains basically aligned with the radial plane (X, Y) to provide better finger positioning during the rotational action of the cover 20.

[0046] Having thus fully described the essence of the present invention and preferred exemplary embodiments, it is hereby stated that the materials, shapes, sizes and arrangements of the components described may be modified for relevant purposes without implying a change in the basic characteristics of the present invention.

Claims

1. A floor tile leveling device, comprising: A separation column comprising: a base member, a separator member, and a threaded shaft extending from an upper portion of the separator member; and A threaded cap comprising: a hollow body having a lower cylindrical member and an upper hub, the upper hub being centered about the axis of the lower cylindrical member and having an internal thread at its center for assembling the cap onto the threaded shaft of the separation column and tightening the cap onto the upper surface of the floor tile to be leveled; a series of lateral openings, and a plurality of ribs disposed between the lateral openings and extending from the lower cylindrical member to the upper hub; wherein the body of the cap has an arched, curved outer convex surface defined by the ribs; the ribs having a substantially U-shaped cross-section and comprising: a smooth outer side web, without protruding wings or extensions, the width of which increases in a downward direction toward a first side end having a curved concave profile; a first wing extending from a first side end of the web toward an interior of the cap and forming a first curved concave surface within a corresponding opening for applying pressure to the cap in a corresponding tightening rotational direction of the threaded shaft; A second wing extends from a second side end of the web of the rib toward the interior of the cap and forms a substantially vertical surface in the corresponding opening for applying pressure to the cap in a corresponding loosening rotation direction of the threaded shaft.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first and second wings of the continuous rib of the cover are connected by a lower portion and an upper portion, which project towards the interior of the hollow body and, together with the wings, form a continuous peripheral frame within the corresponding opening.

3. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: The invention comprises two pairs of ribs evenly distributed on the cover, which are arranged vertically in pairs; each pair of ribs is arranged in a plane parallel to a corresponding radial plane (X, Y) and shifted in opposite directions relative to the corresponding radial plane (X, Y), and the first wing of the corresponding rib remains basically aligned with the radial plane (X, Y).

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