Tile Alignment and Leveling Device
AssigneeDavinci Italia/USA Group, LLC
InventorsEdward A. Kufner, Ralph Burgin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tile alignment and leveling device for aligning and leveling tiles as they are being secured to a substrate. The device includes a flexible member, a bottom plate, and an intermediate member. The intermediate member spaces the flexible member and bottom plate a predetermined vertical distance. The flexible member has a first end and a second end. The first end is pivotally combined with the intermediate member thereby allowing the flexible member to pivot between a first position and a second (downward) position. In use and in its second position, the flexible member second end exerts force against the top of the tiles to help align and level the tiles as they are secured to the substrate.
Claims27
A device for laying and leveling tiles, said device comprising:
- a bottom plate having a top side and a bottom side;
- a flexible member having a first end and a second end;
- an intermediate member connecting the bottom plate to the flexible member;
- wherein the flexible member first end is pivotally combined with the intermediate member thereby allowing the flexible member to pivot between a first position and a second position;
- and
- a securing mechanism for securing the flexible member in its second position.
A device for laying and leveling tiles, said device comprising:
- a bottom plate having a top side and a bottom side;
- a flexible member having a first end and a second end;
- an intermediate member connecting the bottom plate to the flexible member;
- wherein the flexible member first end is pivotally combined with the intermediate member thereby allowing the flexible member to pivot between a first position wherein it is farther from the bottom plate and a second position wherein it is closer to the bottom plate;
- wherein the flexible member is adapted to be lockingly engaged with the tile when in its second position.
A device for laying and leveling tiles, said device comprising:
- a bottom plate having a top surface;
- a shaft combined with and extending upwardly from the top surface of the bottom plate;
- an intermediate member having an opening adapted to receive the shaft;
- a flexible member combined with the intermediate member, said flexible member having a first end and a second end;
- wherein the flexible member first end is pivotally combined with the intermediate member thereby allowing the flexible member to pivot between a first position wherein it is farther from the bottom plate and a second position wherein it is closer to the bottom plate;
- wherein the flexible member is adapted to be lockingly engaged with the tile when in its second position;
- and
- a locking mechanism operatively connecting the intermediate member and the shaft, said locking mechanism allowing the intermediate member to move in a first direction along the shaft but not in a second direction along the shaft.
A device for laying and leveling tiles, said device comprising:
- a bottom plate having a top surface;
- a shaft combined with and extending upwardly from the top surface of the bottom plate;
- an intermediate member having an opening adapted to receive the shaft;
- a flexible member combined with the intermediate member, said flexible member having a first end and a second end;
- wherein the flexible member first end is pivotally combined with the intermediate member thereby allowing the flexible member to pivot between a first position wherein it is farther from the bottom plate and a second position wherein it is closer to the bottom plate;
- a securing mechanism for securing the flexible member in its second position;
- and
- a locking mechanism operationally connecting the intermediate member and the shaft, said locking mechanism allowing the intermediate member to move in a first direction along the shaft but not in a second direction along the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.