# US 12,006,705 B2 · Tile spacing device and accompanying system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,006,705 B2 - Document ID: US12006705B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/818,648 - Filed: 2022-08-09 - Published: 2022-12-01 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-16 - Assignees: Acufloor, LLC - Applicants: Acufloor, L.L.C. - Inventors: Clinton D. Bunch; Joshua A. Bunch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12006705B2 ## CPC - E04F 21/0092: {Separate provisional spacers used between adjacent floor or wall tiles (E04F13/0889, E04F15/02005 takes precedence)} - E04F 13/0889: {characterised by the joints between neighbouring elements, e.g. with joint fillings or with tongue and groove connections} - E04F 15/02005: {Construction of joints, e.g. dividing strips (E04F15/024, E04F15/04, E04F15/06, E04F15/10 and E04F15/14 take precedence; separate provisional spacers E04F21/0092)} - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) ## Abstract A tile spacing device and accompanying system and method are disclosed for spacing multiple tiles. In one embodiment, a central body has four arms extending therefrom with a releasably frangible connection. Each of the four arms has a cellular sheet structure defined by multiple cells, including at least one hexagonal cell. The central body and the four arms provide a four-tile engagement configuration. By selectively breaking and removing an arm, a three-tile engagement configuration may also be provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tile spacing device for spacing a plurality of tiles, the tile spacing device comprising: a central body providing subterminal opposition surfaces in which palmar surfaces of a thumb and an index finger can hold the tile spacing device therebetween; a plurality of arms extending from the central body, the plurality of arms being coplanar with the central body; each of the plurality of arms including a cellular sheet structure defined by a plurality of cells; a releasably frangible connector coupling at least one arm of the plurality of arms to the central body, the releasably frangible connector having a vertically extending notch at the intersection of the first arm and the central body, the releasably frangible connector having a horizontally extending notch at the intersection of the first arm and the central body; the central body and the plurality of arms being a N-tile engagement configuration; and the central body and the plurality of arms minus the released at least one arm being a (N-1)—tile engagement configuration following the frangible release of the first arm from the central body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tile spacing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the central body further comprises a four-pointed star shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tile spacing device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of arms further comprise: parallel first and second outer walls joined by a third wall; and a plurality of interior partitions defining the plurality of cells. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tile spacing device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of arms comprise a spacer width providing a finished grout line space. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tile spacing device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of arms comprise a width selected from the group consisting of 1/32 inches, 1/16 inches, ⅛ inches, 3/16 inches, and ¼ inches. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tile spacing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of cells further comprise at least one hexagonal cell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tile spacing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of cells further comprise at least two hexagonal cells. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tile spacing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of cells further comprise at least one trapezoidal cell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tile spacing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of cells further comprise at least two trapezoidal cells. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tile spacing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of arms and the central body further comprise top-bottom symmetry. ### Claim 11 A tile spacing device for spacing a plurality of tiles, the tile spacing device comprising: a central body providing subterminal opposition surfaces in which palmar surfaces of a thumb and an index finger can hold the tile spacing device therebetween; a plurality of arms extending from the central body, the plurality of arms being coplanar with the central body; each of the plurality of arms including a cellular sheet structure defined by a plurality of cells; and a releasably frangible connector coupling at least one arm of the plurality of arms to the central body, the releasably frangible connector having a vertically extending notch at the intersection of the first arm and the central body, the releasably frangible connector having a horizontally extending notch at the intersection of the first arm and the central body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The tile spacing device as recited in claim 11, wherein the central body further comprises a four-pointed star shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The tile spacing device as recited in claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of arms further comprise: parallel first and second outer walls joined by a third wall; and a plurality of interior partitions defining the plurality of cells. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The tile spacing device as recited in claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of arms comprise a spacer width providing a finished grout line space. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The tile spacing device as recited in claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of arms comprise a width selected from the group consisting of 1/32 inches, 1/16 inches, ⅛ inches, 3/16 inches, and ¼ inches. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The tile spacing device as recited in claim 11, wherein the plurality of cells further comprise at least one hexagonal cell. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The tile spacing device as recited in claim 11, wherein the plurality of cells further comprise at least two hexagonal cells. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The tile spacing device as recited in claim 11, wherein the plurality of cells further comprise at least one trapezoidal cell. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The tile spacing device as recited in claim 11, wherein the plurality of cells further comprise at least two trapezoidal cells. ### Claim 20 A tile spacing device for spacing a plurality of tiles, the tile spacing device comprising: a central body providing subterminal opposition surfaces in which palmar surfaces of a thumb and an index finger can hold the tile spacing device therebetween; a plurality of arms extending from the central body, the plurality of arms being coplanar with the central body, each of the plurality of arms comprise a spacer width providing a finished grout line space; each of the plurality of arms including a cellular sheet structure defined by a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells including at least one hexagonal cell; and a releasably frangible connector coupling at least one arm of the plurality of arms to the central body, the releasably frangible connector having a vertically extending notch at the intersection of the first arm and the central body, the releasably frangible connector having a horizontally extending notch at the intersection of the first arm and the central body.