# US 12,000,156 B2 · Lippage control system with stretchable strap portion

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- Number: US 12,000,156 B2
- Document ID: US12000156B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/807,280
- Filed: 2020-03-03
- Published: 2020-06-25
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-21
- Assignees: New Standards Manufacturing Co.
- Applicants: New Standards Manufacturing Co.
- Inventors: Michele Volponi; James P. Hoffman; Ernest L. Perry, IV
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000156B2

## CPC

- E04F 15/02022: {with means for aligning the outer surfaces of the flooring elements (E04F15/02038 takes precedence)}
- E04F 21/0092: {Separate provisional spacers used between adjacent floor or wall tiles (E04F13/0889, E04F15/02005 takes precedence)}
- E04F 21/1844: {by applying them one by one}
- E04F 13/0892: {with means for aligning the outer surfaces of the covering elements (E04F13/0894 takes precedence)}
- E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B)

## Abstract

A tile aligning and lippage tuning system that uses a single piece base and strap which is designed to break away from the base when sufficient pressure is applied and is also designed to stretch along a thin wall region before separation of the strap from the base occurs.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for reducing lippage in a plurality of tiles comprising the steps of:
providing a substrate configured to be bondable to said plurality of tiles;
providing a base;
providing a first tile disposed adjacent said base;
providing a member extending from said base; where the member has a distance from the base as a longest dimension along a member longitudinal axis; a width of the member, which runs in a line parallel to a joint longitudinal axis of a joint containing said member, has a shorter dimension than said longest dimension, and is a dimension that is longer than a thickness dimension of the member in a line which is orthogonal to the joint longitudinal axis;
providing a cap;
causing said cap to engage and surround a portion of said member; and
providing a pressure onto a surface of one of said plurality of tiles by compressing with pressure said cap, and thereby causing a region of said member to stretch along said member longitudinal axis wherein said member has a thin walled region surrounded by a thicker walled region and the thin-walled region is oval in shape.

### Claim 2

A method for reducing lippage in a plurality of tiles comprising the steps of:
providing a substrate configured to be bondable to said plurality of tiles;
providing a base;
providing a first tile disposed adjacent said base;
providing a member extending from said base; where the member has a distance from the base as a longest dimension along a member longitudinal axis; a width of the member, which runs in a line parallel to a joint longitudinal axis of a joint containing said member, has a shorter dimension than said longest dimension, and is a dimension that is longer than a thickness dimension of the member in a line which is orthogonal to the joint longitudinal axis;
providing a cap;
causing said cap to engage and surround a portion of said member; and
providing a pressure onto a surface of one of said plurality of tiles by compressing with pressure said cap, and thereby causing a region of said member to stretch along said member longitudinal axis wherein said region is oval in shape, completely surrounded by a thicker wall region and proximal to said base.