Disk-like Tile Laying Aid with Orthogonal Spacers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laying aids for tiling work either fail to provide adequate support to tiles before the mortar sets, leading to uneven surfaces and insufficient adhesion, or are impractical due to large size and unwieldy design, which can result in incomplete wetting of tiles with adhesive and impaired bonding.
Innovation Solution
A compact, disk-like laying aid with a tile support area and web-like spacer elements that allow for precise alignment and even joint spacing, ensuring maximum adhesive contact and stability, while being stackable and easy to use in various tile configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large-area lattice structure is used to support multiple tiles, then tile support and evenness are improved, but device portability and adhesive coverage are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The large-area lattice structure is divided into multiple separate base elements, each with a compact footprint. Each base element can independently support one or more tiles, allowing workers to easily carry and position them without the unwieldiness of a continuous large-area structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The base elements are designed with vertical spacer elements that create a three-dimensional support structure. This vertical dimension provides tile support and defines joint spacing without requiring a large horizontal footprint, resolving the contradiction between support area and portability.
2Manufacturing precision
If a continuous lattice structure is used, then tile alignment is improved, but adhesive wetting of the substrate is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous lattice is segmented into discrete base elements with localized support functions. The spaces between these segmented elements allow adhesive to reach the substrate in areas not covered by the lattice, ensuring complete wetting while the spacer elements maintain precise tile alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
Each base element provides localized alignment functionality through its spacer elements, while leaving other areas open for adhesive application. This local quality approach ensures that alignment is provided only where needed, rather than through a continuous structure that would block adhesive coverage.
3Manufacturing precision
If simple spacers are used, then joint width consistency is improved, but tile support during laying is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The functions of spacers and support structures are merged into a single integrated base element. The base element incorporates spacer elements that simultaneously provide joint width control and structural support for the tiles during the laying process, eliminating the need for separate spacer components.
Solution Approach 2:
The base element is designed as a multi-functional component that provides tile support, joint width control, and alignment guidance all in one structure. This universal design replaces multiple separate tools (support structure + spacers + alignment guides) with a single device that performs all functions.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(g)
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) that functions as a laying aid for tiling work, comprising a base element (7, 8) having a contact region (12) for laying flat on a surface to be covered with tiles (16) and a tile-supporting region (2) on which tiles (16) are placed. The tile-supporting region (2) comprises at least two rib-like spacer elements (9) that extend perpendicularly with respect to a plane defined by the tile-supporting region (2), are arranged at an angle of an integer multiple of 90° to one another in said plane, and have a thickness (10) corresponding to the desired joint between the tiles. In order to avoid the drawbacks of the known laying aids and to achieve a uniform joint between tiles and an even surface, for which purpose the laying aid is intended to be especially convenient, the base element (7, 8) is configured as a disc-like element having a base area that is smaller than a base area of the tiles (16) to be laid.