Levelling wedge clamp for slabs, especially tiles or paving stones
The leveling wedge clamp with a continuous adjustment mechanism addresses the limitations of existing systems by enabling precise and efficient tile leveling and alignment, reducing time and effort in tile installation.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023011882
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-10-31
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-02
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-10-31
AI Technical Summary
Existing leveling systems for tiles or paving stones are limited in accuracy and time-consuming due to the inability to make millimeter-level adjustments and inefficient use of clamps.
A leveling wedge clamp with a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, featuring a longitudinal guide bar and a stirrup-forming part that can be immobilized continuously along the bar, allowing precise adjustment and quick tightening of wedges of different sizes.
The clamp enables precise leveling and alignment with reduced time consumption by allowing continuous adjustment and efficient use of wedges, improving the accuracy and efficiency of tile laying.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Leveling wedge clamp for slabs, particularly tiles or paving stones
[0001] The present invention relates to the leveling of slabs, in particular tiles or paving stones, laid on a floor, using wedges and spacers.
[0002] This system, called a "self-leveling system," is commonly used to obtain a smooth and uniform tiled floor. It consists of a spacer made up of a substantially horizontal base and a plate with a window projecting vertically from the base, and a wedge, in particular in the shape of a beveled corner. Once a first tile has been placed in the desired position on the floor, the spacer bases are inserted around the first tile underneath it with their respective vertical plates abutting against one edge of the tile, and the adjacent tiles are placed around the first tile also on the base and abutting against the face of the vertical plate opposite to the one against which the edge of the first tile abuts.A leveling wedge is then inserted into the window of each cross member by being pushed along the two tiles between which the cross member is located using a clamp whose fixed jaw is positioned on one side of the vertical plate, overlapping the wedge by a lower part shaped like a stirrup or bridge, the other movable jaw pushing against the rear side of the wedge, until the upper edge of the window prevents any further advancement of the wedge through the window of the cross member.
[0003] The wedge, thus pressed by means of a leveling wedge clamp, to push it more and more firmly into the window of the crossbar, presses the tiles against the floor until they are leveled and aligned. A leveling wedge clamp consists of a fixed jaw having a stirrup-shaped part intended to be positioned on one side of the crossbar, in particular against one face of a vertical plate pierced with a crossbar, and a movable jaw intended, on the other side of the crossbar, to push the wedge to force it into the window of the vertical plate pierced with the crossbar.
[0004] Depending on the type of tile to be leveled, cross pieces and wedges of different dimensions can be used. The bracket is thus mounted on the fixed jaw so that it can be fixed in several possible positions, notably by means of adjustment notches.
[0005] Although this prior art tile leveling system with wedges and spacers is designed to achieve precise leveling, there are limitations in terms of accuracy. These prior art clamps may not allow for leveling or alignment adjustments to the millimeter, which is important for some projects. In addition, the use of these earlier art clamps is very time-consuming, particularly due to the time required to adjust the position of the caliper on the fixed jaw.
[0006] The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art by means of a leveling wedge clamp intended for use in a wedge and crossbar leveling system, comprising: a fixed jaw, consisting of a longitudinal guide bar and a stirrup-forming part intended to be positioned on a distal side of the vertically perforated plate of a crossbar by straddling a wedge, the stirrup-forming part being able to slide along the bar and be immobilized therein at a plurality of points spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal adjustment section of the bar; and a movable jaw intended to push a wedge towards the fixed jaw, characterized in that the stirrup-forming part can be immobilized to the bar continuously, i.e. at any point of the longitudinal adjustment section.
[0007] The wedge can thus be tightened by pliers adjusted to precisely the correct size without any strain. Wedges of different sizes can be tightened one after the other without wasting adjustment time. This significantly reduces the time required for laying and leveling tiles.
[0008] Preferably, the fixed jaw includes a spring, in particular a leaf spring, tending to keep the stirrup-forming part in a fixed position on the bar, an action by the user of the clamp on the spring, in particular by compressing it, allowing the user to slide the stirrup-forming part along the bar to position it in any position along the longitudinal adjustment section.
[0009] Preferably, the stirrup-forming part is mounted pivotally relative to the bar, the stirrup-forming part being able, by an action of the user rotating it in a first direction, against the spring, to release the stirrup-forming part from its immobilization with respect to the bar in a first adjustment position and to slide it along the bar to a second adjustment position, the release of the stirrup-forming part by the user having the effect of pivoting the stirrup-forming part in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, and immobilizing the stirrup-forming part with respect to the bar in the second adjustment position.
[0010] Preferably, the stirrup-forming part, in a fixed position vis-à-vis the bar, includes at least one corner or edge braced against the bar, the release of the stirrup-forming part, in particular by pivoting it, having the effect of moving the corner or edge away from the bar.
[0011] Preferably, the clamp pivots from an open position, in which the jaws are apart, to a clamping position in which the stirrup-forming part and the movable jaw, in particular a stop disposed at the distal end of the jaw The two movable jaws clamp together, holding a leveling wedge in place. The stirrup-like portion of the wedge overlaps part of the wedge, and the movable jaw, specifically its distal stop, is in contact with one end of the wedge. The stop and the end of the wedge are complementary in shape, with convex and concave surfaces, respectively. This complementary shape prevents the clamp from shifting or slipping off the wedge during clamping, thus improving the accuracy of leveling and alignment.
[0012] Preferably, the stirrup-forming part comprises a housing having a left wall, a right wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, a front, or distal, wall, and a rear, or proximal, wall, which define an internal space in which an angled plate and the spring are received, two openings being formed respectively in the front wall and the rear wall to allow the passage of the bar through the housing.
[0013] Preferably, a lower part in the shape of a stirrup or bridge protrudes from the lower wall of the housing.
[0014] Preferably, the angled plate consists of a first upper horizontal section extending against the inner face of the upper wall, followed by a second intermediate section making an acute angle, i.e. less than 90°, with the first upper section, in particular an angle between 45° and 75°, followed by a third lower vertical section, making an obtuse angle, i.e. greater than 90°, with the intermediate section, in particular an angle between 135° and 160°.
[0015] Preferably, the lower section of the plate is received, with a tight fit, between the front and rear walls of the housing, bearing against the inner faces of these two walls, so as to keep the angled plate in the housing.
[0016] Preferably, the intermediate section has an opening of substantially complementary shape to the cross-section of the bar, being sufficiently larger so that the bar can pass through the opening when the intermediate section is disposed substantially vertically to the bar, but also sufficiently small so that the outer upper edge and / or the inner lower edge of the peripheral edge of the opening butt(s) against the bar when the plate is in a position in which the intermediate section is inclined with respect to the vertical of the bar.
[0017] Preferably, at least one of the edges has a right-angled wedge shape.
[0018] Preferably, the spring, in particular a leaf spring, is disposed in the housing between the bar guide and plate, in particular the upper section of the plate.
[0019] In particular, the spring is a leaf spring, notably comprising a first vertical section, followed by a second section making an angle of 90° with the first section, followed by a third section inclined at an acute angle with respect to the second section towards the first section and followed by a fourth section inclined at an obtuse angle to the third section.
[0020] In particular, the leaf spring is arranged in the housing so that the first section bears against an inner face of the front wall of the housing, the second section bears against the bar and the fourth section bears against an inner face of the first section of the plate.
[0021] Preferably, the guide bar has a stop at its free or distal end, so as to prevent the passage of the stirrup-forming part.
[0022] The present invention also relates to a tile-laying assembly comprising at least one spacer, at least one wedge and a clamp according to the invention.
[0023] In particular, the crossbar or each crossbar consists of a substantially horizontal base and a plate pierced with a window and projecting vertically from the base
[0024] In particular, the wedge or each wedge has the shape of a beveled wedge.
[0025] By way of example, a preferred embodiment of a clamp according to the invention is now described by reference to the drawings, in which:
[0026] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a clamp according to the invention;
[0027] [Fig. 2] is a perspective view of the clamp of [Fig. 1], following another direction ;
[0028] Fig. 3 is a side view of the clamp of Figures 1 and 2, the housing having been omitted;
[0029] Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the stirrup-forming part and the bar guide for the clamp in the previous figures;
[0030] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the leaf spring of the clamp in the figures previous ones; and
[0031] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the clamp according to the invention. use on a leveling block to the left of the figure or adjustment to the right of the figure.
[0032] The clamp, identified as a whole by reference numeral 1, comprises two jaws, one fixed and one movable, mounted pivotally relative to each other at a pivot point 8. Each jaw has a respective handle 3, 6 fixed, for example by overmolding, gluing, welding, screwing or the like, to the respective proximal end of the jaws, the two handles 3 and 6 being opposite each other.
[0033] The fixed jaw comprises a rectangular cross-section guide bar 4 and a stirrup-forming portion 10 mounted to slide along the bar 4. The stirrup-forming portion 10 can slide along a major portion of the bar, between its distal end and the articulation point 8. Preferably, an end stop 16 The distal end blocks the sliding of the stirrup-forming part beyond the distal end and prevents the stirrup-forming part from leaving the bar.
[0034] Thus, the stirrup-forming part 10 can slide along the bar 4 between a distal limit point defined by the distal stop 16 and a proximal limit point defined by a bulge in the bar at the pivot point 8. According to the invention, the stirrup-forming part 10 can thus be continuously immobilized at any point in the longitudinal direction of the bar between these two limit points, unlike prior art clamps in which the stirrup-forming part could only be immobilized at a finite number of points along the bar, over a discrete and not continuous range as according to the invention.
[0035] The movable jaw comprises a bar 5, of rectangular cross-section and bent substantially perpendicularly, carrying the second handle 6 at its proximal end and a stop 7 at its distal end.
[0036] The stirrup-forming part 10 comprises a housing 20 having a left wall 21, a right wall 22, an upper wall 23, an lower wall 24, a front, or distal, wall 25, and a rear, or proximal, wall 26, which define an internal space in which a bent plate 9 and a leaf spring 15 are received.
[0037] Two openings are formed respectively in the front wall and the rear wall to allow the passage of the bar 4 through the housing.
[0038] A lower bridge-shaped part 11 protrudes from the lower wall of the housing 20. The U-shaped bridge has a width, between its two arms, substantially equal to, but slightly greater than, the width of a wedge that it is intended to straddle.
[0039] The angled plate 9 consists of a first upper horizontal section 9.1 extending against the inner face of the upper wall 23, followed by a second intermediate section 9.2 making an acute angle, i.e. less than 90°, with the first upper section 9.1, in particular an angle between 45° and 75°, followed by a third lower vertical section 9.3, making an obtuse angle, i.e. greater than 90°, with the intermediate section 9.2, in particular an angle between 135° and 160°.
[0040] The lower section 9.3 of the plate 9 is received, with a tight fit, between the front and rear walls 25, 26 of the housing, bearing against the inner faces of these two walls 25, 26, so as to lock the plate 9 in position with the housing 20.
[0041] The intermediate section 9.2 has a rectangular opening whose shape is substantially complementary to the cross-section of the bar 4, being sufficiently larger so that the bar can pass through the opening when the intermediate section 9.2 is positioned substantially vertically (and therefore perpendicular to the bar 4), but also sufficiently small so that the edge The upper outer edge 9.4 and the lower inner edge 9.5 of the peripheral edge of the opening abut against the upper and lower surfaces of bar 4, respectively, when plate 9 is in a position where section 9.1 is horizontal (and therefore parallel to bar 4), section 9.3 is vertical (and therefore perpendicular to bar 4), and section 9.2 is inclined relative to the vertical and horizontal, as shown in [Fig. 4]. In this position, the upper inner edge and the lower outer edge of the peripheral edge of the opening are at a distance from the upper and lower surfaces of bar 4, respectively.
[0042] Preferably, edges 9.4 and / or 9.5 have a right-angled wedge shape.
[0043] A leaf spring 15 is disposed in the housing between the guide bar 4 and the upper section 9.1 of the plate. This spring's function is to hold the housing 20 in a fixed position on the guide bar 4.
[0044] As shown in [Fig.5], the spring 15 comprises a first vertical section 15a, followed by a second section 15b making an angle of 90° with the first section, followed by a third section 15c inclined at an acute angle with respect to the second section 15b towards the first section 15a and followed by a fourth section 15d inclined at an obtuse angle with respect to the third section.
[0045] The leaf spring 15 is arranged in the housing so that the first section 15a bears against the inner face of the front wall of the housing, the second section bears against the upper face of the bar 4 and the fourth section bears against the inner face of the first section 9.1 of the plate 9.
[0046] The stiffness of the spring is chosen so that the spring tends to move the section 9.1 of the plate 9 away from the upper face of the bar 4, which has the effect of tending to tilt the intermediate section 9.2 and to press the two edges 9.4 and 9.5 against the bar 4, thus ensuring immobilization of the stirrup-forming part 10 in a position chosen by the user along the bar 4. Such a position is shown in Figures 1 to 5 and in the left part of [Fig.6].
[0047] When the user wishes to change the position of the stirrup-shaped part 10 relative to the bar, they take the housing in their hand and rotate it against the action of the spring. This tends to compress the spring, bringing the third and fourth sections 15c and 15d of the spring closer to the second section 15b of the spring, until the intermediate section 9.2 of the plate 9 is perpendicular to the bar 4, and consequently the edges 9.4 and 9.5 no longer abut against the bar 4. The user can then slide the housing 20, still holding it in their hand, to the new position they wish to give the stirrup-shaped part. They then release the stirrup-shaped part, which, under the effect of the spring, pivots back into the position in which it is immobilized with the bar 4.
[0048] On the other hand, the spring blade 15 tends to press the two edges 9.4 and 9.5 against each other with a force that nevertheless allows transverse movement of the stirrup 10 if the force applied for this movement is transmitted at two points above and below the bar 4, giving a resultant force located substantially on a parallel axis midway between the two longitudinal faces of the bar 4. By placing two fingers on these points, it is possible to avoid compressing the spring blade 15 to make the adjustment and thus improve user comfort.
[0049] As shown in [Fig. 6], when a leveling wedge 17 is positioned in a cross brace 18 between two elements 19 to be leveled, the bridge 11 is placed overlapping the wedge and the stop 7 is positioned against the rear end surface of the wedge. Then, the second handle 6 is brought closer to the first handle 3, causing the stop 7 to push the wedge 17 harder and harder into the opening of the bridge 11 and the window of the cross brace 18 until the two adjacent elements 19, located on either side of the cross brace 18, are leveled and aligned. The bracket-like part remains in position and does not move under pressure thanks to the action of the leaf spring 15 and the fact that the plate 9 and the housing 20 cannot tilt.
[0050] If the wedge has dimensions such that the clamp cannot be correctly positioned, it is pressed against the stirrup-forming part 10 which tilts the plate 9 and the housing 20 to the left, then the stirrup-forming part 10 is moved along the guide bar 4 and at any point along the length of the guide bar 4 then the stirrup-forming part 10 is released and the assembly returns to position under the effect of the leaf spring 15.
[0051] In [Fig. 6], the wedge-shaped, beveled wedge has a lower face in contact with the tiles to be leveled, a vertical lateral envelope comprising a front face, a rear face, and two left and right lateral faces, and an upper face inclined relative to the lower face, such that the front face extends over a shorter vertical height than the rear face. Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the front face may be omitted, the two upper and lower faces meeting at the front in a point.
[0052] According to one embodiment of the invention, the surface of the stop 7 is convex and the surface of the rear end of the wedge is concave so as to be complementary in shape between them.
Claims
Demands
1. Leveling wedge clamp (1) for use in a leveling system with wedges (17) and crossbars (18), comprising: a fixed jaw, consisting of a longitudinal guide bar (4) and a stirrup-forming portion (10) for positioning on a distal side of the vertically perforated plate of a crossbar by straddling a wedge, the stirrup-forming portion (10) being able to slide along the bar (4) and be immobilized therein at a plurality of points spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal adjustment section of the bar (4);and a movable jaw intended to push the wedge towards the fixed jaw, characterized in that the stirrup-forming part (10) can be continuously immobilized to the bar (4), i.e. at any point along the longitudinal adjustment section, and the fixed jaw includes a spring (15), in particular a leaf spring, tending to maintain the stirrup-forming part (10) in the immobilized position on the bar (4), an action by the user of the clamp on the spring, in particular by compressing it, allowing the user to slide the stirrup-forming part (10) along the bar to position it in any position along the longitudinal adjustment section.
2. Clamp (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the stirrup-forming part (10) is pivotally mounted relative to the bar (4), the stirrup-forming part being able, by an action of the user pivoting it in a first direction, against the spring (15), to release the stirrup-forming part from its immobilization with respect to the bar in a first adjustment position and to slide it along the bar to a second adjustment position, the release of the stirrup-forming part by the user having the effect of pivoting the stirrup-forming part in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, and immobilizing the stirrup-forming part with respect to the bar in the second adjustment position.
3. Clamp (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stirrup-forming part (10), in the immobilized position vis-à-vis the bar, has at least one wedge or edge (9.4; 9.5; 9.4, 9.5) braced against the bar, the release of the stirrup-forming part, in particular by pivoting it, having the effect of moving the wedge or edge away from the bar.
4. Clamp (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stirrup-forming part comprises a housing (20) having a left wall, a right wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, a front, or distal, wall, and a rear, or proximal, wall, which define an internal space in which an angled plate (9) and the spring (15) are received, two openings being formed respectively in the front wall and the rear wall to allow the passage of the bar (4) through the housing (20).
5. Clamp (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that a lower part (11) in the form of a stirrup or bridge protrudes from the lower wall of the housing (20).
6. Clamp (1) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the angled plate (9) consists of a first upper horizontal section (9.1) extending against the inner face of the upper wall, followed by a second intermediate section (9.2) making an acute angle, i.e. less than 90°, with the first upper section, in particular an angle between 45° and 75°, followed by a third lower vertical section (9.3) making an obtuse angle, i.e. greater than 90°, with the intermediate section, in particular an angle between 135° and 160°.
7. Clamp (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the intermediate section (9.2) has an opening of substantially complementary shape to the cross-section of the bar, being sufficiently larger so that the bar can pass through the opening when the intermediate section is disposed substantially vertical to the bar, but also sufficiently small so that the outer upper edge (9.4) and / or the inner lower edge (9.5) of the peripheral edge of the opening butt(s) against the bar when the plate is in a position in which the intermediate section is inclined with respect to the vertical of the bar.
8. Clamp (1) according to claim 1 and any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the spring (15) is disposed in the housing (20) between the bar (4) and the plate (9).
9. Clamp (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the spring is a leaf spring.
10. Clamp according to claim 9, characterized in that the leaf spring comprises a first vertical section (15a), followed by a second section (15b) forming a 90° angle with the first
11. section, followed by a third section (15c) inclined at an acute angle relative to the second section towards the first section and followed by a fourth section (15d) inclined at an obtuse angle relative to the third section. A tile-laying assembly comprising at least one spacer, at least one wedge and a clamp according to one of the preceding claims.