Tile Levelling System with Linear Stem and Threaded Adjustment

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing levelling systems for tiles and floor elements often damage the upper surface and are cumbersome to use, with the pressure body being difficult to remove and reuse, leading to increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A levelling system with a base and stem where the stem is fixed by a pre-weakened zone, allowing separation, and a pressure member with a tubular body that slides over the stem to prevent rotation, and a pressure adjustment member with a thread engaging with barbs on the stem, enabling precise adjustment and easy removal without damaging the tiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a rotational pressure body is used to level tiles, then the tile can be pressed down to achieve levelling, but the pressure body rotates or slides on the tile surface causing damage and is difficult to remove

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelevelling precisionVSAvoidtile surface damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the rotational mechanical system with a linear translation system. The pressure body moves only in the longitudinal direction along the stem through pure translation, eliminating rotational contact with the tile surface. This substitution of mechanical motion type prevents surface damage while maintaining levelling function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a stem as an intermediary element between the pressure body and the base. The pressure body translates along the stem rather than rotating directly on the tile, using the stem as a guided intermediary that converts rotational motion into linear translation motion, preventing direct rotational contact with the tile surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If a rotational pressure body is used, then levelling can be achieved, but the pressure body is difficult to remove and reuse is discouraged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelevelling precisionVSAvoidremoval and reuse ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the rotational mechanical system with a linear translation system. The pressure body moves only in the longitudinal direction along the stem through pure translation, eliminating rotational contact with the tile surface. This substitution of mechanical motion type prevents surface damage while maintaining levelling function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a stem as an intermediary element between the pressure body and the base. The pressure body translates along the stem rather than rotating directly on the tile, using the stem as a guided intermediary that converts rotational motion into linear translation motion, preventing direct rotational contact with the tile surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If traditional levelling systems are used, then tiles can be levelled, but the system is time-consuming and increases cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelevelling precisionVSAvoidlevelling time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the pressure body dynamically adjustable along the stem through pure translation. The adjustable pressure body can be quickly positioned at different heights by translating along the stem, allowing rapid adaptation to varying tile positions without time-consuming rotational adjustments or removal and reattachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the levelling system into distinct functional components: a reusable pressure body, a disposable stem with pre-weakened zone, and a base. This segmentation allows the complex pressure body to be separated and reused while the simpler stem is discarded, reducing overall system cost and time for future levelling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3752690B1Levelling system

Publication Date: 2023.06.07 SOLIDOR RUBBER&PROD BVBA

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AI summary

A levelling system for laying tiles or floor elements in a desired plane XY, comprising: - a base extending in a plane A, - a stem extending from the base in a longitudinal direction Z and fixed to said base by means of at least one pre-weakened point, configured to allow separating the stem from the base, the stem comprising at least one first engagement member; - a pressure member comprising a tubular body defining an inner slot configured to slide over the stem in the longitudinal direction Z, the slot defining guiding means mating with the stem, thereby preventing rotation of the pressure member around the stem, the pressure member comprising a pressure surface extending in a plane parallel to the XY plane and facing the base when the pressure member is positioned over the stem; - a pressure adjustment member comprising a tubular body having at least one a inwardly directed second engagement member configured to engage with the first engagement member, characterized in that at one of first or second engagement members comprises at least one barb and that the other engagement member comprises a thread configured to engage with the thread.