Tile Leveling Clip With Breakaway Base for Precise Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tile installation methods face challenges in properly aligning and leveling tiles, leading to spacing errors, aesthetic issues, and safety concerns, particularly for do-it-yourselfers and professional installers.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical-based leveling clip and tile leveling device that includes a body with tapered legs and a frangible breakaway section, combined with a wedge device, to facilitate easy alignment and leveling of tiles, with the tapered surfaces aiding in the clip's release from the mortar bed as it hardens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional tile installation methods are used without a leveling device, then the installation process is simpler in terms of tools, but tile alignment and spacing precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The leveling device is segmented into multiple functional components: a clip with tapered legs for positioning, a wedge for applying force, and a breakaway section for easy removal. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The leveled device acts as an intermediary tool between the installer and the tiles, providing mechanical assistance for alignment and spacing. The tapered legs and wedge work together as intermediary elements that translate simple installer actions into precise tile positioning
2Stability of the object's composition
If clips are embedded deeply in hardened mortar for stable tile leveling, then tile leveling stability improves, but clip removal effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The breakaway section is pre-designed with reduced thickness and increased flexibility to fail at a predetermined location. This preliminary design ensures that when removal force is applied, the clip will break away cleanly from the mortar without requiring excessive force or damaging the tiles
Solution Approach 2:
The clip structure incorporates a breakaway section with different geometric parameters (reduced thickness, increased flexibility) compared to the main body. This parameter change creates a weak point that allows easy separation from the mortar while maintaining stability during the leveling process
3Manufacturing precision
If more force is applied to level tiles using the wedge device, then tile leveling precision improves, but disturbance to installed tiles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tapered legs of the clip and the wedge surface incorporate curved/tapered geometry rather than flat surfaces. This curvature allows for gradual, progressive force application that levels tiles smoothly without sudden movements that could disturb adjacent tiles
Solution Approach 2:
The tapered legs and wedge serve as intermediary elements that distribute and control the application of force. Rather than applying force directly to the tiles, the intermediary tapered surfaces translate wedge movement into controlled, gradual tile adjustment
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and cost-effective alignment and spacing of tiles, reducing the need for clip removal effort and minimizing disturbance to installed tiles, thus improving installation quality and productivity.
Implementation Method 1
The base to body coupling includes a frangible breakaway section that is integral prior to frangible separation and the frangible breakaway section, upon breaking, frangibly separates the body from the base
Implementation Method 2
The tapered legs enhance the release of the leveling clip from a mortar bed after the mortar bed is cured or hardened
Data Source
AI summary
A leveling clip and tile leveling device for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the leveling clip includes a body defining an opening that is configured to accept a wedge device thereat. Tapered legs extend from the body and join a base at a base to body coupling. The base extends to a front and a rear of the body. The base to body coupling includes a frangible breakaway section that is integral prior to frangible separation and the frangible breakaway section, upon breaking, frangibly separates the body from the base. The leveling clip may be used with the wedge device to install two, three, or four tiles.