CLADDING PIECE LEVELING AND ALIGNING SYSTEM

Abstract

A leveling and aligning system for cladding pieces comprising a lower base (1) intended to be positioned under at least two adjacent pieces (6) and a head (9) configured to cooperate with an elongated strip (2), characterized in that the lower base (1) is attached to an elongated strip (2) provided with a plurality of perforations (3) distributed along its length, said perforations (3) being configured to allow the application of tension by means of a lever effect through the insertion of an elongated object (8), and the head (9) comprises fastening means (12) intended to retain the strip (2) in the position reached after the application of said tension.

Description

Leveling and alignment system for cladding pieces Technology sector The present invention falls within the technical sector of auxiliary devices used in the placement of coverings in the field of construction. More specifically, the invention relates to a leveling and aligning system for cladding pieces, such as tiles, slabs, plates or panels used in floor or wall coverings, intended to keep said pieces correctly positioned, aligned and on the same plane during their installation on a layer of adhesive, mortar or other fixing materials. The system comprises a lower base attached to an elongated strip provided with perforations and a reusable head provided with a fixing element, configured to cooperate with each other in order to keep adjacent cladding pieces aligned and level during the installation process. Background of the invention In the field of construction and, in particular, in the work of placing cladding pieces such as tiles, slabs, plates or panels intended for the cladding of floors or walls, it is common for differences in height or misalignments between adjacent pieces to occur during the installation process. These irregularities can originate from various factors, such as variations in the thickness of the adhesive or mortar layer, irregularities in the surface of the support, dimensional tolerances of the pieces used, or displacements of the pieces during the placement process. In order to reduce or avoid these problems, various auxiliary devices known as cladding leveling or alignment systems have been developed, designed to keep adjacent pieces aligned and on the same plane while the fixing material sets. Representative documents of the prior art include, among others, US5675942A, US8079199B1, US7861487B2, and ES2674772T3. In general, the systems described in these documents comprise a separating element with a lower base designed to be positioned under the cladding pieces and a protruding element that extends between them. This protruding element works in conjunction with a clamping or locking element that allows a tightening force to be applied to hold the pieces in position during installation. In many of these systems, the clamping force is achieved by inserting sliding wedges, threaded mechanisms, or pressure devices actuated by specific tools. However, some of these systems present certain practical limitations during their use on site, such as the need to use specific tools to generate the tensioning force, the difficulty in applying this force quickly and in a controlled manner, or the complexity of handling the system during the process of placing the pieces. Furthermore, in many of the known systems, the tensioning mechanism is based on wedge elements or direct compression devices, which can limit the ease of applying the tensioning force and make it difficult to progressively adjust the system during installation. Therefore, there is a need for a system for leveling and aligning cladding pieces that allows the tensioning force to be applied easily, using common hand tools available on site, and that facilitates the alignment and leveling process of the pieces during their placement. The present invention proposes a leveling and aligning system that incorporates a strip provided with perforations configured to allow the application of tension by lever effect, cooperating with a reusable head provided with a fixing element, which allows the tensioning force to be applied in a simple, effective and controlled manner during the installation of the cladding pieces. Explanation of the invention The present invention relates to a leveling and aligning system for cladding pieces intended to keep adjacent cladding pieces correctly aligned and level during installation. The system comprises: - Lower base intended to be placed under at least two adjacent cladding pieces. - Elongated strip attached to the lower base, configured to protrude between the pieces during the installation process. - Reusable head configured to cooperate with the elongated strip. The lower base and the elongated strip are preferably made of thermoplastic material, constituting a disposable part of the system, while the head can be reused in subsequent installations. Between the base and the strip, pre-cuts or weakened zones are incorporated that allow the elongated strip to be broken and moved from the base with a simple lateral tap once the pieces are installed and the adhesive has set, facilitating its removal without damaging the printhead or the cladding pieces. The elongated strip is provided with perforations distributed along its length, configured to allow the insertion of an elongated object to apply tension (an elongated hand tool or equivalent) that generates a lever action. Through this action, the user applies a pulling force to the strip, causing it to move relative to the head and generating a clamping force between the cladding pieces, thus leveling and aligning them. The reusable head comprises a fixing element (for example, one or more retaining teeth) that prevents the strip from retracting after tensioning. Preferably, the head may include a fulcrum to facilitate the application of the lever effect. Once the adhesive has set, the strip can be removed by controlled tearing at the pre-cuts, while the reusable head is recovered for later use. Thus, the invention provides a simple, effective, reusable and adaptable system for aligning and leveling cladding pieces during installation. Brief description of the drawings To complement the description being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is included as an integral part of said description, in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented: Figure 1: Side view, in cross section, of an embodiment of the leveling and aligning system installed between two cladding pieces. Figure 2: View of the elongated strip provided with perforations. Figure 3: View of the reusable printhead. Figure 4: Application of tension by lever effect using an elongated object. Preferred embodiment of the invention The present preferred embodiment describes a cladding leveling and alignment system designed to keep adjacent pieces properly aligned and leveled during installation on layers of adhesive, mortar or other fixing materials. The system comprises a lower base (1) attached to an elongated strip (2), preferably made of thermoplastic material, intended to be placed under at least two adjacent cladding pieces (6). The base (1) provides stable support and is a disposable part of the assembly. The lower base (1) is joined perpendicularly (at 90°) to the elongated strip (2), ensuring stability and proper force transfer during the application of the lever effect. The strip (2) protrudes between the pieces (6) during the installation process and has a plurality of regularly distributed perforations (3) along its length, suitable for the insertion of an elongated tensioning object (8) that generates a lever effect and exerts traction on the strip (2). The strip (2) may have toothed (4), smooth, or grooved configurations, and its thermoplastic material provides a combination of flexibility and strength suitable for applying the lever effect and for controlled breakage at the pre-cuts (5). Between the lower base (1) and the strip (2) there are pre-cuts (5) or weakening zones, which allow, once the adhesive has set, the controlled breaking of the strip by means of a simple lateral blow, facilitating its separation from the base (1) without compromising the integrity of the pieces or the reusable head (9). The reusable head (9) attaches to the elongated strip (2) and includes a locking element (12), such as one or more retaining teeth (10), designed to prevent the strip (2) from retracting after tension is applied. Additionally, the head (9) may incorporate a support point (11) to facilitate the insertion of the elongated tensioning object (8) and the generation of the lever effect. During use, the elongated object (8) intended for applying tension is inserted into one of the perforations (3) of the strip (2), followed by a lever movement that causes a relative displacement between said strip (2) and the head (9). As a result of this displacement, a clamping force is generated between the base (1) and the aforementioned head (9), the latter being reusable and comprising a substantially level, flat lower area (13) configured to exert balanced pressure on the cladding pieces (6), ensuring the alignment and leveling of said pieces in the same plane. After the adhesive (7) has set, the strip (2) can be removed by controlled tearing at the pre-cuts (5), while the reusable head (9) remains available for subsequent installations. This configuration allows for efficient and controlled use of the system, adaptable to different types and sizes of cladding pieces (6), applicable to both horizontal and vertical surfaces, and optimizes the installation process by reducing the manual effort required and eliminating dependence on specific compression tools. The preferred embodiment described technically illustrates the functional interaction between the base (1), the strip (2) and the head (9), demonstrating that the system is reusable, efficient, adaptable and safe, guaranteeing the correct alignment and leveling of cladding pieces during installation.

Claims

1. A leveling and aligning system for cladding pieces comprising a lower base (1) intended to be positioned under at least two adjacent pieces (6) and a head (9) configured to cooperate with an elongated strip (2), characterized in that the lower base (1) is attached to an elongated strip (2) provided with a plurality of perforations (3) distributed along its length, said perforations (3) being configured to allow the application of tension by means of a lever effect through the insertion of an elongated object (8), and the head (9) comprises fastening means (12) intended to retain the strip (2) in the position reached after the application of said tension.

2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the elongated strip (2) has pre-cuts (5) or weakened zones between the base (1) and the strip (2), allowing it to break and be displaced after the adhesive (7) has set. 3.A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening means (12) comprise one or more retaining teeth (10).

4. A system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining teeth (10) are made of plastic or metallic material.

5. A system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elongated strip (2) has a toothed (4), smooth, or grooved configuration.

6. A system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the perforations (3) are arranged longitudinally along the strip (2).

7. A system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the perforations (3) are circular, oval, or polygonal in shape.

8. A system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the head (9) is reusable and comprises a fulcrum (11) to facilitate the application of the lever. 9.A system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the head (9) comprises one or more substantially level, flat lower zones (13).

10. A system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strip (2) comprises flexible, semi-rigid, or rigid material.