Reusable ceramic tile leveling system

Abstract

The invention relates to a reusable tile leveling system comprising a cover having a bottom surface (11), a gripping member (12) and a screw hole (13) for mounting a flange (2). The flange comprises a plastic body (2a) and a metal insert (2b), the plastic body (2a) is provided with a mounting stud (21) for mounting on the cover (1) and an indicator (24) for indicating the rotational position of the flange (2). The metal insert comprises a rod (25) inseparably connected to the main body (2a) of the flange (2), a flank (27) forming a part for supporting the bottom surface of the tile (B) to be leveled on the flange, and a score (28) located in a region adjacent to the flank (27) for breaking the rod (25) by twisting.

Description

Reusable tile leveling system Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a reusable tile leveling system, applicable to the construction field, and more specifically, to tile laying and leveling. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, there are different tile leveling systems known that can make the top surfaces of adjacent tiles flat, so that they are aligned and on the same plane.

[0003] A known type of tile leveling system includes an operating cover or operating shield having a bottom surface for placement on the top surface of the tile to be leveled, and a screw hole; a flange is installed in the screw hole, the flange being located between adjacent tiles and including a base disposed below the adjacent tiles. Thus, by rotating the operating shield, the bottom surface of the shield presses against the top surface of the tile, pressing the tile down against the base of the flange, thereby leveling the tile.

[0004] Some leveling systems of the type described are disclosed in documents US2019093372 A1, US 9.322.185 B1 and US9.279.259 B1.

[0005] In these tile leveling systems, the flange is made entirely of plastic and has a recessed or fractured area above its base. This structure allows the flange to break off at this point after the flooring material used to hold the tiles has cured, resulting in the loss of its base portion. This not only renders the flange unusable but also leaves a significant amount of plastic base residue in the flooring.

[0006] There are also known leveling systems in the prior art: wherein the flange includes a plastic body with studs for threaded mounting of a cover and a metal insert fixed to the plastic body, the metal insert having a side wing at its end for placement under the tile during tile installation.

[0007] These flanges can be removed for reuse by rotating the flange after the tiles have been leveled and before the tile fixing products have cured. One problem with these flanges is that if they are not removed within this time window, the metal insert cannot be pulled out; forcibly rotating the flange in an attempt to remove it may cause the tiles to crack or loosen.

[0008] Another problem with this type of flange with metal inserts is that the metal inserts are obscured by the tile itself when using a leveling system; when the operator wants to rotate the flange to align the insert's wings and remove it through the gap between adjacent tiles, it is impossible to know the orientation of the insert's wings, making it difficult to pull the latter out.

[0009] The technical problem solved by this invention is to develop a reusable tile leveling system equipped with a flange with a metal insert. This system is easy to use and reusable, and can maintain the neatness of the installation even when the tile fixing product has hardened and hindered the rotation and removal of the side flanges of the metal insert. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The subject of this invention relates to a reusable tile leveling system comprising: a cover having a bottom surface for placement on the top surface of the tile to be leveled, a gripping component for rotating the cover, and a screw hole for mounting a flange, the flange having a plastic body and a metal insert with side wings for supporting the bottom surface of the tile to be leveled.

[0011] The system provided by this invention includes technical features for solving the above-mentioned problems and achieving a series of objectives.

[0012] The first objective of this invention is to provide a flange body made of a plastic material having an inseparable metal insert, which gives the system a reusable characteristic and allows it to be used in remedial scenarios when conventional plastic flanges break or cannot be inserted during tile installation.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to facilitate manual gripping of the flange to rotate it to an operating angle position or a position for removing the metal insert, and to prevent it from rotating during cover fastening and tile leveling.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a metal insert with grooves, which are used to break the metal insert and separate the flanks by twisting when the product fixing the tile to the ground has been cured and reached a certain hardness, such that the flange cannot be rotated to a position that allows the metal insert to be pulled out through the gap between the leveled tiles.

[0015] To achieve the above objectives, the flange of the system of the present invention includes a plastic body that is inseparably fixed to a metal insert suitable for acting on the bottom surface of the tile to be leveled.

[0016] The plastic body of the flange includes a threaded mounting stud for mounting in a screw hole in the cover, and at least one indicator of the rotational position of the flange.

[0017] The metal insert of the flange includes a rod aligned with the plastic flange body, and the rod is inseparably and immovably connected to the plastic flange body. The metal insert includes a side wing at its bottom end, the side wing forming a component for supporting the bottom surface of the tile to be leveled.

[0018] The orientation of the side wing is the same as the angle or rotation position indicator of the flange body. This allows the operator to know the orientation of the side wing of the insert even if the side wing is blocked by the tile to be leveled and cannot be directly seen. The operator can still know the orientation of the side wing of the insert by observing the angle position indicator that is always visible on the plastic body during system use.

[0019] To ensure easy removal of the flange after tile installation and leveling, it is crucial to fully consider the curing time of the tile fixing material. In this case, it is recommended to remove the flange within 5 hours of the start of installation to prevent the metal insert from becoming locked underneath the tile.

[0020] A key feature of the invention is that the rod of the metal insert includes a notch located in the region adjacent to the side wing, the notch being used to break the metal insert by twisting, and always remaining below the surface of the tile, thus acting as a stress concentrater.

[0021] If the metal insert becomes locked under the tile and cannot rotate due to the hardening of the tile fixing material, applying torque to the flange with a finger or some tool is sufficient to completely cut the insert at the aforementioned notch, separating the side wings of the rod. While this breakage renders the flange unusable, it ensures a neat tile installation and eliminates the risk of leveled tiles shifting or loosening. Attached Figure Description

[0022] In addition to the description provided herein, and for the purpose of helping to make the features of the invention more readily understood, this specification is accompanied by a set of drawings, which are illustrative and not restrictive, and represent the following:

[0023] Figures 1 and 2 show a perspective view and a front view, respectively, of an exemplary embodiment of the reusable tile leveling system according to the present invention, wherein a cover is mounted on top of a flange.

[0024] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the flange.

[0025] Figure 4 shows a front view of the flange cut along the longitudinal mid-plane.

[0026] Figures 5 and 6 show a perspective view and a front view of the reusable tile fixing system in one usage position, respectively. Detailed Implementation

[0027] In an exemplary embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the reusable tile leveling system includes a cover (1) with a bottom surface (11) having an annular structure, the cover (1) having a gripping part (12) for manual rotation operation and a screw hole (13) for threaded mounting on a flange (2).

[0028] In the illustrated example embodiment, the gripping component (12) is composed of ribs defined between the side windows of the cover (1), but it may also be any configuration suitable for manually transmitting rotational motion to the cover.

[0029] As can be seen more clearly in Figures 3 and 4, the flange (2) includes a plastic body (2a) and a metal insert (2b) which is aligned with the plastic body (2a) and is fixed to the plastic body (2a) indivisibly and immovably.

[0030] The body (2a) of the flange includes a stud 21 for threading into a screw hole (13) of the cover (1). The top end of the stud 21 has an extension (22) located at the engagement position of the flange (2) and the cover (1), protruding upward from the cover (1) to facilitate manual gripping of the flange (2) to adjust it to a specific rotational position or to prevent the rotation.

[0031] The plastic body (2a) of the flange (2) includes an indicator (24) for indicating the rotational or angular position of the flange (2). In the illustrated embodiment, the indicator (24) is disposed on the thickened portion (23) at the bottom end of the stud (21).

[0032] The indicator (24) consists of two attachments that protrude in opposite directions from the thickened portion (23), so that it can be grasped by fingers and to apply torque to the flange.

[0033] The metal insert (2b) of the flange (2) includes a rod (25) aligned with the plastic body (2a), the rod (25) including a head (26) at the top of the rod (25), the head (26) being inseparably embedded in the body (2a). In a specific embodiment, the head (26) is embedded in the thickened portion (23). Meanwhile, the bottom end of the rod (25) has two mutually aligned and facing side wings (27) for supporting the bottom surface of the tile (B) to be leveled.

[0034] The orientation of the side wing (27) of the metal insert (2b) is the same as the orientation of the indicator (24) for the rotational position of the flange (2). Thus, when using this leveling system, the user can easily determine the orientation of the side wing (27) by observing the direction indicated by the indicator (24). Even if the tile to be leveled obstructs the view of the metal insert (2b), the indicator (24) remains visible through the side opening or window of the cover (1).

[0035] As shown in Figure 2, the rod (25) of the metal insert (2b) includes a notch (28) located in the adjacent area of ​​the side wing (27). Its purpose is to allow the metal insert (2b) to be disconnected by twisting the notch (28) through the gap in the tile when the curing of the material used to fix the tile to the ground causes the side wing (27) to be unable to rotate to the release position of the insert.

[0036] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, at the location of use of the reusable leveling system, the tile (B) to be leveled is arranged to be placed on the side wing (27) of the metal insert (2b) of the flange (2), and the cover (1) is threaded onto the stud (21) of the flange (2) through its screw hole (13).

[0037] Hold the extension (22) with one hand to rotate the flange (2) until the indicator (24) of the rotation position is reached, and the side wing (27) of the metal insert (2b) faces the tile (B) to be leveled.

[0038] Then, use the other hand to rotate the cover (1) until its bottom surface presses against the top surface of the tile (B), thereby performing leveling of the tile.

[0039] After the tile (B) has been installed for a period of time and before the tile fixing material has hardened, loosen the cover and rotate the flange (2) until the side of the metal insert is aligned with the groove between the leveled tile. The flange can then be recycled for reuse.

[0040] If the side wing (27) of the metal insert cannot rotate due to the curing of the fixing material, simply apply appropriate torque to the flange (2) to break it at the notch (28). At this time, the side wing (27) will remain under the tile (B). Although the flange (2) can no longer be used, it can also prevent the leveled tile from cracking or shifting, ensuring the neatness of the installation.

[0041] Having fully described the nature of the invention, it is hereby stated that, apart from the preferred exemplary embodiments, modifications may be made to the materials, shapes, sizes, and layouts of the described elements for related purposes, provided that such modifications do not alter the essential features of the invention as claimed below. Claims (as amended under Article 19 of the Treaty) 1. A reusable tile leveling system comprising: an operating cover (1) including a bottom surface for placement on the top surface of a tile (B) to be leveled, and a gripping component (12) for rotational operation; a support (2) including a plastic body (2a) having studs (21), and a metal insert (2b) inseparably connected to the plastic body (2a), the metal insert (2b) including a rod (25) aligned with the body (2a), the free end of the rod (25) having a side wing (27) for supporting the tile to be leveled; characterized in that: the cover (1) includes a screw hole (13) centrally located in its top region; the body (2a) of the support (2) can be The support (2) is rotated relative to the cover by a threaded stud (21) for threading into a threaded hole (13) in the cover (1); the body (2a) of the support (2) includes at least one indicator (24) of the rotational position of the support (2) relative to the cover (1); the indicator (24) is always visible and accessible through a side window of the cover (1); and the metal insert (2b) includes a notch (28) in the area adjacent to the side wing (27) of the rod (25) for breaking the metal insert by twisting, and the orientation of the side wing (27) of the metal insert is the same as the orientation of the indicator (24) of the rotational position of the flange. 2. The reusable system according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (2a) of the support (2) includes an extension (22) at the top end of the stud (21), the extension (22) protruding above the cover (1) and forming an area for manually gripping the support (2) to adjust it to a specific rotational position or to prevent the rotation. 3. The reusable system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that an indicator (24) for the rotational or angular position of the support (2) is provided at a thickened portion (23) at the bottom end of the stud (21). 4. The reusable system according to claim 3, characterized in that the indicator (24) for the angular or rotational position of the support (2) is composed of two attachments protruding in opposite directions from the thickened portion (23). 5. The reusable system according to claim 3, characterized in that the rod (25) includes a head (26) at its top end, the head (26) being inseparably built into the thickened portion (23) of the body (2a) of the support.6. The reusable system according to claim 1, wherein the gripping member (12) is composed of ribs defined between the side windows of the cover (1).

Claims

1. A reusable tile leveling system, comprising: The operating cover (1) includes a bottom surface for placement on the top surface of the tile (B) to be leveled, a gripping component (12) for rotational operation, and a screw hole (13) centrally located in its top region; the flange (2) includes a plastic body (2a) having a mounting stud (21) for mounting at the screw hole of the cover (1), a metal insert (2b) inseparably connected to the plastic body (2a), a rod (25) aligned with the body (2a), and a side wing (27) for supporting the tile to be leveled; characterized in that: the body (2a) of the flange (2) includes at least one indicator (24) of the rotational position of the flange (2); the metal insert (2b) includes a notch (28) in the region of the rod (25) adjacent to the side wing (27) for breaking the metal insert by twisting, and the orientation of the side wing (27) of the metal insert is the same as the orientation of the indicator (24) of the rotational position of the flange.

2. The reusable system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The body (2a) of the flange (2) includes an extension (22) at the top of the stud (21), which protrudes above the cover (1) and forms a manual gripping area of ​​the flange (2).

3. The reusable system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, An indicator (24) for the rotational or angular position of the flange (2) is located at the thickened portion (23) at the bottom of the stud (21).

4. The reusable system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The indicator (24) for the angle or rotational position of the flange (2) consists of two attachments that protrude in opposite directions from the thickened portion (23).

5. The reusable system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The rod (25) includes a head (26) at its top end, which is inseparably built into the thickened portion (23) of the body (2a) of the flange.

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