Levelling Spacing Device With Coplanar Tabs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing leveling spacing devices require significant effort to insert and often fail to ensure coplanarity of tiles, especially when three or four tiles converge, and they contribute to high plastic consumption and environmental impact due to non-biodegradable materials.

Innovation Solution

A leveling spacing device with a base and a flat element that includes spacing tabs coplanar with the flat element, which maintain consistent joint width without relying on the flat element's thickness, allowing for reduced plastic usage and ensuring correct tile positioning even if the flat element breaks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the flat element thickness is increased to maintain joint width, then the joint width consistency is improved, but the plastic consumption and environmental impact worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoint width consistencyVSAvoidplastic consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The device segments the joint width maintenance function from the flat element to separate spacing tabs. The flat element provides pressing support while the spacing tabs, positioned at the periphery, define the joint width. This segmentation allows the flat element to be made thinner without compromising joint width consistency, thereby reducing plastic consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spacing tabs act as intermediary elements between the flat element and the tiles. Instead of relying on the flat element's thickness to maintain joint width, the spacing tabs serve as the intermediary that directly contacts the tiles to define the joint width, allowing the flat element to be thinner and reduce material usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the wedge shape is used for the pressing element, then the insertion is simplified, but the effort required from the operator increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsertion simplicityVSAvoidoperator effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a wedge shape that requires forceful insertion, the invention inverts the approach by using a flat element with perpendicular insertion. The spacing tabs are positioned to engage with the tiles as the flat element is inserted, eliminating the need for wedge-shaped forcing and reducing operator effort while maintaining insertion simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If the pressing element surface area is reduced, then the device complexity is lowered, but the coplanarity assurance worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressing element structureVSAvoidcoplanarity assurance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the coplanarity assurance function from the pressing element surface to the spacing tabs. The pressing element maintains simple structure while the spacing tabs, positioned at the periphery, provide the necessary surface area to ensure coplanarity of adjacent tiles, especially at convergence points where three or four tiles meet.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Quantity of substance

If the flat element is made thinner to reduce plastic usage, then the environmental impact is reduced, but the joint width maintenance capability worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplastic usageVSAvoidjoint width maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The device segments the joint width maintenance function from the flat element to separate spacing tabs. The flat element can be made thinner to reduce plastic usage while the spacing tabs, positioned at the periphery and extending beyond the flat element, maintain the joint width by directly contacting the tiles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from maintaining joint width through the thickness dimension of the flat element to maintaining it through the peripheral positioning of spacing tabs in the horizontal dimension. This dimensional change allows the flat element to be thinner while joint width is maintained by the spacing tabs extending beyond it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4159952B1Levelling spacing device to facilitate installations of tiles

Publication Date: 2023.10.25 ANGIOLINI MARCO

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AI summary

The leveling spacing device comprises: a base having a lower surface and an upper surface; and a flat element extending from the upper surface of the base and having a first plane face and a second plane face parallel to each other and approximately orthogonal to the upper surface of the base; wherein spacing tabs project from the upper surface of the base, the spacing tabs being coplanar with the flat element and spaced therefrom.