Tile alignment and leveling device and method for using the same
AssigneeDavinci Italia/USA Group, LLC
InventorsEdward Kufner, Michele Volponi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for aligning and leveling tiles as they are laid in floors, walls, countertops, or the like. The device has a top plate with several spacer fins and a bottom plate. The plates are combined with a shaft that extends from the bottom plate through the top plate so that the top plate is movable along the length of the shaft.
Claims17
A device for laying and leveling tiles, said device comprising:
- a shaft having an upper portion and a lower portion;
- a bottom plate combined with the shaft lower portion;
- and
- a top plate having an opening which is adapted to receive the shaft, said top plate having an upper side and a lower side;
- wherein the top plate is slidable along the length of the shaft in a first direction and a second direction.
A method for laying and leveling adjacent tiles using a device having a shaft with a bottom plate secured thereto and a top plate having an upper side and a lower side, said top plate being threaded onto and movable along the shaft, said method comprising:
- applying a setting bed to a substrate material;
- placing the bottom plate in the setting bed;
- placing at least two tiles over the bottom plate so that the shaft extends upward between the tiles;
- moving the top plate downward along the shaft until it is in contact with the tiles;
- leveling the tiles using the device;
- allowing the setting bed to dry;
- and
- removing the top plate and the shaft from the bottom plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.