Elastic Tile Spacer With Angular Tabs For Dimensional Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spacer members for tiles fail to accommodate dimensional variations in tiles, leading to accumulation of deviations and unsightly joint lines due to the need for precise alignment, which is challenging for inexperienced installers, especially in DIY settings.
Innovation Solution
A spacer member with a circular ring and crosspiece design, featuring tabs that allow for adjustment of tile positions by varying angular openings, providing positioning clearance to correct dimensional tolerances and maintain uniform spacing and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional spacers with fixed crosspieces are used, then spacing between tiles is maintained, but dimensional variations in tiles cause accumulation of deviations and offset in alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer member incorporates elastic branches that can deform elastically to accommodate dimensional variations in tiles. The branches are initially in a compressed state and can expand to absorb deviations, allowing the spacer to adapt dynamically to different tile dimensions while maintaining alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer member changes its physical parameters by utilizing elastic deformation of the branches. The elastic material allows the branches to change their length and position within an elastic range, transforming the rigid spacer into an adaptable one that can compensate for dimensional variations in tiles.
2Manufacturing precision
If tiles are pushed against rigid crosspieces for positioning, then alignment is enforced, but dimensional tolerances accumulate causing unsightly joint lines
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer member uses flexible elastic branches instead of rigid crosspieces. These elastic branches can deform to accommodate tile dimensional variations, making the installation process easier for inexperienced installers while still ensuring straight joint lines through the restoring force of the elastic material.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic branches are pre-compressed and designed to absorb dimensional variations within the elastic range before they cause misalignment. This beforehand cushioning effect prevents the accumulation of deviations that would otherwise lead to unsightly joint lines, while also making the installation process more forgiving and easier to perform.
3Manufacturing precision
If constant thickness spacers are used, then uniform spacing is achieved, but they cannot accommodate variations in tile dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer member transitions from a static, fixed-thickness design to a dynamic system where elastic branches can deform. This allows the spacer to maintain uniform spacing through its restoring force while simultaneously adapting to dimensional variations in tiles by elastic deformation of the branches.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer member combines rigid structural elements (the ring and tab connections) with elastic material (the deformable branches). This composite structure provides both the uniform spacing function of the rigid parts and the adaptability to dimensional variations through the elastic branches, achieving both spacing uniformity and dimensional tolerance compensation.
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a member for spacing tiles (9) arranged on a same substrate into adjacent rows parallel to two perpendicular axes (11, 12), said member comprising a rear portion provided between the tiles and the substrate and a front portion, characterised in that the rear portion supports four tabs (6) defining the front portion and positioned on the ring (1) so as to define, two-by-two, four adjacent angular sectors (8a, 8b) centred on the central area of the ring (1), the angular openings of said sectors being close to 90° but being smaller or larger than 90°, respectively, when passing from a sector to the adjacent one, so that the two tabs of an angular sector (8b) with a small opening each define abutments for the two consecutive sides of a tile (9) positioned in said angular sector and pushed towards the central area of the ring. The invention also relates to a tile-laying method using said spacing member.