Leveling and spacing device for tiles, panels or like

Abstract

A leveling and spacing device for tiles, panels or the like, arranged to cover or lay flat surfaces, belonging to the type for mutually leveling and spacing at least two adjacent tiles (P, P '), said device comprising an elongated support or rod (2) adapted to be arranged between at least two adjacent tiles, for this purpose, a base (3) is provided, which is designed to be positioned below the mutually facing edges of two adjacent tiles. An elongated body or rod (2) extends orthogonally from a base (3) and is equipped with means for clamping it by an external pressure and leveling body (10) comprising a structure equipped with means for quickly and on-demand clamping of the elongated body or rod (2) so that the elongated body or rod (2) is clamped by the action of a pressure member (10) coupled with the elongated body or rod (2). The pressure body (6) is finally brought into direct contact with and urges the flat upper surfaces of the adjacent tiles (P, P '). Coupling and centering means are envisaged, which effect a coaxial coupling between a portion of the frustoconical surface (8) and a portion of the coaxial frustoconical surface (9) of the structure of the pressure body (6), with the task of pushing the annular surface (11) of the pressure body (10) into contact with the upper surface portion of the edge of the tile by means of its own bearing surface (11), the annular bearing surface (11) is accommodated within the outer limit of the lower edge of the pressure body (6).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a leveling and spacing device for ceramic tiles, slabs or the like, the device being arranged to cover or lay a flat surface, belonging to the type used for leveling and spacing at least two adjacent ceramic tiles.

[0002] The device belongs to the type that includes an elongated support member adapted to be arranged between at least two adjacent tiles and provided with a base for this purpose, the base being designed to be placed under the mutually facing edges of the two tiles; the elongated body or rod extends orthogonally from the base and is equipped with means for allowing external pressure and a leveling body to clamp it, the pressure and leveling body including a structure equipped with means for quickly and on demand clamping the elongated body or rod. Background Technology

[0003] In certain known prior art embodiments, the pressure and leveling body has a lower edge that may be directly and integrally provided with a flat support surface, designed to directly contact the upper surface portions of at least two adjacent tiles, or to cooperate with an independent support member having a similar surface. The function of the flat support surface is to perform leveling, i.e., to align the upper flat surfaces of two or more adjacent tiles located in the same plane when the support surface is pressed against the upper surface of adjacent tiles, utilizing the reaction force applied to the lower surface of the tiles through the base. The flat support surface is arranged perpendicular to the central axis of the pressure body or the support member, which also has a support surface arranged perpendicular to the central axis of the pressure body. This operation is performed using a threaded connection, whereby the pressure body is screwed onto the threads of an elongated body or rod, resulting in the support surface of the pressure body terminating contact and pressing against the flat upper surface of the adjacent tiles.

[0004] The existing art embodiments with a support member have some disadvantages, as the support member is not aligned with the lower surface of the lower edge, but is only fixed to it in the axial direction and can rotate freely. These disadvantages include the somewhat complex construction resulting from achieving the connection between the support member and the lower edge of the pressure body.

[0005] Furthermore, the use of the support member, which is fixed to the lower edge of the pressure body and can rotate freely relative to the pressure body, may have disadvantages during the use of the device, especially in the stage after leveling and spacing and after installation have been completed and the components have been removed. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to overcome the limitations of the prior art described above by a leveling and spacing device for ceramic tiles, slabs or the like, which is simple and quick to use and is equipped with a connection and centering device conceived between the pressure body and the support member, and the support member having the function of contacting the upper surface portion of the edge of the ceramic tile (P, P'), as described below, as shown in the figures, and as claimed in the claims. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Further features and advantages of the leveling and spacing device contemplated by the present invention will become more apparent in the following description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings as non-limiting examples, wherein: - Figure 1 An exploded isometric view is shown; - Figure 2 It is shown according to the following Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view taken by the plane line AA in the diagram; - Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 Top view plan; - Figure 4 An exploded view of the leveling device is shown, in which the components are not connected and are used in conjunction with... Figure 2 Same basis Figure 3 A sectional view taken by plane line AA in the middle; - Figure 5 and Figure 6 Two isometric views are shown, corresponding to two subsequent stages involving the insertion of the slender element 2 when laying two adjacent tiles. Detailed Implementation

[0008] Referring to the accompanying drawings, P and P' represent two adjacent tiles laid sequentially to cover or lay a flat surface, with an elongated support or rod 2 placed between them. This elongated support or rod 2 also acts as a spacer and constitutes a component of device 1. The elongated support or rod 2 includes a base 3 designed to rest beneath the facing edges of the two adjacent tiles P. The elongated support or rod 2 extends orthogonally from the base 3 and is equipped with a device for clamping it by an external pressure body 6. This device consists of a threaded section 5. The pressure body 6 includes a clamping member 7, which can be operated by applying pressure to freely mount the pressure element 6 onto the threaded portion 5 of the elongated support 2.

[0009] The elongated element or rod 2 is quickly and on demand clamped by tightening the two halves 7 of the coaxial threaded cavity seat disposed in the pressure element 6 around the threaded portion 5 (male part). The two threaded halves 7 are elastically connected to each other, so that when pushed together, the two halves of the threaded cavity seat separate, allowing the threaded portion 5 to be freely inserted therebetween. Once returned to the initial position (the position without elastic deformation), the release of the two tongues 7 causes the threaded cavity seat to tighten around the threaded portion 5. This allows the pressure member 6 to be screwed onto the elongated support or rod 2, and thus engages a portion of the coaxial frustoconical surface 8 of the pressure member 6 with a corresponding frustoconical surface 9, which is integrally formed with the support member 10, whose function is to contact the upper surface portion of the tile edge via its own support surface 11.

[0010] By rotating the pressure member 6 connected to the elongated body or rod 2, the pressure member ultimately utilizes the reaction force applied by the base 3 to the lower surface of the tile to directly contact and push the flat upper surfaces of the adjacent tiles P and P' through the support surface 11 of the support member 10.

[0011] This occurs using the aforementioned coupling and centering device, which achieves a coaxial connection between a portion of a coaxial frustoconical surface 8 and a portion of a coaxial frustoconical surface 9, obtained coaxially with the structure of the pressure body 6, the coaxial frustoconical surface 9 being integrally formed with the support member 10. The support member 10 is designed to contact the upper surface portion of the edges of the tiles P and P' via its own support surface 11, which has the characteristic of being accommodated within the outer limit of the lower edge of the pressure body 6.

[0012] Surface 11, which is used to support the upper surface of the edges of tiles P and P', is arranged perpendicular to the axis AA of the pressure body 6 of the device, and the surface has an annular shape whose diameter allows the surface to be freely accommodated in the lower side of the pressure body 6.

[0013] The coaxial truncated cone surface portion of the pressure body structure 6 and the coaxial truncated cone surface portion of the support member 10 are geometrically formed with the same taper, so that they are connected to each other when in contact.

[0014] The truncated cone surface portion 8 of the pressure body structure 6 and the coaxial truncated cone surface portion 9 of the support member 10 are smooth.

[0015] The structural configuration of this device is based on the fact that the support surface 11 has an annular shape, the diameter of which allows the surface to be freely accommodated in the lower part of the pressure body 6. This means that when the device is fixed to the ground, a portion of the coaxial frustoconical surface 9 of the support member 10 is fitted into a portion of the coaxial frustoconical surface 8 obtained coaxially with the structure of the pressure body 6, keeping the portion centered and locked, thus forming a structurally robust but somewhat flexible connection between the two parts consisting of the support member 10 and the pressure body 6.

[0016] When the device is free and unsupported, the two parts automatically release or detach due to a spring effect triggered by the pressure applied to them when the two tongues 7 push against each other.

Claims

1. A leveling and spacing device for ceramic tiles, slabs, or the like, arranged to cover or lay a flat surface, belonging to the type for leveling and spacing at least two adjacent ceramic tiles, said device comprising an elongated support or rod adapted to be arranged between at least two adjacent ceramic tiles and equipped for this purpose with a base designed to be positioned below the mutually facing edges of the two adjacent ceramic tiles, the elongated body or rod extending orthogonally from said base and equipped with means for allowing clamping by external pressure and a leveling body, said pressure and leveling body including a structure equipped with means for quickly and on-demand clamping of said elongated body or rod, thereby contacting and pressing against the flat upper surface of the adjacent ceramic tiles by means of a pressure body connected to said elongated body or rod, utilizing a counter-pressure applied to the underside of the ceramic tile through said base, said pressure body contacting and pressing against the flat upper surface of the adjacent ceramic tile, characterized in that... The leveling and spacing device includes a coupling and centering device that enables coaxial connection between the truncated cone surface portion (8) of the structure of the pressure body (6) and the coaxial truncated cone surface portion (9) integrally formed with the support member (10). The function of the support member (10) is to push the annular support surface (11) of the support element (10) to partial contact with the upper surface of the edge of the tile (P, P') through the annular support surface (11), which is accommodated within the outer limit of the lower edge of the pressure body (6).

2. The leveling and spacing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The annular surface (11) for support on the upper surface of the edge of the ceramic tile (P, P') is arranged perpendicular to the axis AA of the pressure body (6) of the device (1), and the surface has an annular shape with a diameter that allows the surface to be freely accommodated in the lower side of the pressure body (6).

3. The leveling and spacing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The truncated cone surface portion (8) of the pressure body structure (6) and the coaxial truncated cone surface portion (9) of the support member (10) are geometrically shaped to have the same taper, so that they are connected to each other when in contact.

4. The leveling and spacing device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The truncated cone surface portion (8) of the pressure body structure (6) and the coaxial truncated cone surface portion (9) of the support member (10) are smooth.

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