Tile Spacer Element With Integrated Breaking Line
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spacer elements for aligning and spacing tiles in flooring and wall applications face issues with precise breaking, high production complexity, and a high rate of defective parts, leading to irregular surfaces and inconsistent gaps.
Innovation Solution
A spacer element with an H-shaped base, a threaded stem, and a plate with a defined breaking area, featuring recesses for improved adhesion and breakage precision, along with a levelling wedge or fastening knob for precise alignment and gripping, simplifies the production process and ensures consistent gap formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the spacer element uses a traditional breaking line design between the plate and base, then the spacer can be detached after use, but the breaking precision is poor and defective parts are frequent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-defines a breaking line during the molding process itself, rather than requiring post-manufacturing breaking. The breaking line is created as an inherent feature of the molded spacer element, ensuring precise and consistent breakage at the intended location without requiring additional operations or risking production defects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the base and plate into a single molded piece with an integrated breaking line, rather than separate components. This merging ensures that the breaking line is precisely formed during molding and eliminates the reliability issues associated with separate parts that may not align or break consistently.
2Manufacturing precision
If the spacer element requires high moulding precision for the breaking line, then the breaking can be controlled, but the production complexity increases and defective parts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The breaking line is pre-defined and formed directly during the molding process as an inherent feature of the spacer element. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex post-manufacturing operations and reduces molding complexity by integrating the breaking function into the basic molding process.
3Ease of operation
If the spacer element uses a complex structure with multiple components, then the alignment and gripping functions can be achieved, but the production process becomes complicated and material consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the base, plate, and breaking line into a single molded spacer element. This integration maintains the alignment and gripping functions while simplifying the production process and reducing material consumption compared to multi-component assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The single molded spacer element performs multiple functions: providing alignment references through its geometry, creating gaps between tiles, enabling gripping surfaces for the adhesive, and incorporating a built-in breaking line for easy removal. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components.
4Ease of operation
If the spacer element is designed for easy breaking, then the removal after fitting is simple, but the breaking line may be too weak causing accidental detachments
Solution Approach 1:
The breaking line is pre-defined during molding with optimized geometry that balances strength and breakability. The breaking line is formed as an inherent feature with controlled thickness and geometry, ensuring it is weak enough to break easily at the intended location but strong enough to prevent accidental detachments during normal use.
Data Source
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AI summary
A spacer element (1; 1') for a positioning system (100; 100'; 200) for covering elements (3, 4) comprises a base (5; 5') intended to be made to bear on a fixing adhesive for the covering elements (3, 4) and to receive and support a portion of a rear surface (3b, 4b) of two adjacent covering elements (3, 4), a plate (7; 7') extending transversely along a longitudinal axis (X) of the spacer element (1; 1'), the base (5) being intended to be interposed, in use, between facing edges (3c, 4c) of the two covering elements (3, 4), an intended breaking line (10; 10') being formed between the plate (7) and the base (5), comprising a threaded shaft (8) attached to the plate (7) on the side opposite the base (5), and an insertion aperture (11; 11') formed in the plate (7; 7') and adapted to allow the slidable insertion of a wedge (101).