Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
LEVELLING PIECE
DESCRIPTION
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a levelling piece for cladding panels, such
as wall tiles, floor
tiles, or paving tiles, intended for facilitating the installation of
constructive elements of this
type. The levelling piece has a novel shape based on an inverted T-shaped
profile with a flat
base from which an inverted U-shaped element emerges perpendicularly connected
to the
base by two arms which define a portion in which a gable end which facilitates
bonding with
respect to a wedge in which is located a gable end which facilitates bonding
with respect to a
wedge.
The object of the invention is to provide a levelling piece which ensures that
the inverted U-
shaped element is perpendicular with respect to the base in the levelling
operation and
generates minimum space between cladding panels, preventing the joint between
the panels
from opening, in order to favour the aesthetics of the installation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Levelling pieces which, when used in combination with a wedge, facilitate the
placement of flat
cladding panels, such as ceramic pieces, floor tiles, and other pieces with a
substantially
uniform thickness on floors, walls, or other surfaces, are known in the state
of the art.
To that end, there is provided a bonding material, such as mortar or an
adhesive, on which the
panels for cladding the surface are placed. Said operation involves as many
levelling pieces
as necessary for the perfect arrangement between a pair of panels with the
required surface
flatness.
As shown in patent document number ES2598702T3, known levelling pieces have an
inverted
T shape with a flat base from which an inverted U-shaped element, commonly
known as a
horseshoe spacer, with an opening, emerges perpendicularly. These levelling
pieces are
supported at their base on the bonding material.
Cladding panels are then arranged such that there are at least two levelling
pieces on each
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side.
The wedge is introduced into the opening of each levelling piece which
separates two levelling
panels. Upon hitting the wedge, a force is generated on the inverted U-shaped
element tending
to separate the levelling piece and the surface to be clad, which will also
cause the separation
of the cladding panels, with the panels being levelled out.
The major drawback of the known levelling pieces of this type is that,
oftentimes, upon
introducing the wedge through its opening a bending moment is generated and
causes the
inverted U-shaped element to buckle, i.e., maintaining the levelling piece in
a vertical plane
with respect to the cladding panels cannot be ensured.
The inverted U-shaped element not being perpendicular with respect to the base
generates a
larger separation between the cladding panels than originally designed, i.e.,
the levelling
pieces often cause the joint to open in practice.
When the bonding material is dry, an impact is applied on the inverted U-
shaped element
which, due to the presence of notches in the arms of the levelling piece,
causes the breakage
and separation thereof with respect to the base, with said inverted U-shaped
element being
disposable and the base being buried under the cladding panels and concealed
when grout is
applied to seal the joints.
In this sense, a levelling piece the shape of which facilitates a constant
separation between
cladding panels, overcoming the drawbacks set forth above, is not known in the
current state
of the art.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The proposed levelling piece solves the problems set forth above in an
effective and
satisfactory manner, as a result of a novel shape in which the portion
comprised between the
arms defines an opening which has a gable end.
Specifically, the levelling piece for cladding panels has an inverted T-shaped
profile with a flat
base from which an inverted U-shaped element emerges perpendicularly, being
connected to
the base by two arms to define an opening or hole. Precisely, a wedge is
introduced through
the opening of the levelling piece for levelling the cladding panels, which
are arranged on a
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layer of bonding material.
In this sense, the portion comprised between the arms of the levelling piece
has a gable end.
Said gable end generates a support surface with respect to the wedge offering
improved
bonding with respect to the known systems.
In fact, precisely said gable end guides the wedge into a centred position
with respect to the
levelling piece, allowing self-centring of the wedge and the distribution of
the forces applied by
the wedge on the levelling piece in different planes, preventing the inverted
U-shaped element
from bending with respect to the base.
Advantageously, the controlled distribution of forces defines a minimum space
between
cladding panels, which is defined by the thickness of the inverted U-shaped
element located
between them, and causes minimum opening of the joint demarcated by the space
between
the cladding panels.
Optionally, the portion comprised between the arms of the levelling piece has
two right-angled
ends, i.e., arranged parallel to the base, and being located adjacent to the
gable end. This
embodiment option of the levelling piece offers significant versatility during
use as will be
described in detail in the section of the preferred embodiment of the
invention.
Likewise, the arms of the levelling piece object of the present invention
optionally have notches
at the ends which are connected to the base. Said notches are responsible for
favouring the
breakage of the inverted U-shaped element at the provided region in order to
favour the partial
release of the levelling piece, leaving the base concealed below the cladding
panels.
Based on the foregoing, the levelling piece described in detail in the present
invention allows
offering an effective solution for levelling cladding panels which favours the
installation
operation. This solution offers better bonding of the levelling piece with
respect to the wedge,
which translates into the levelling piece being kept perpendicular during the
levelling operation,
reducing the space or the opening of the joint between cladding panels for a
better aesthetics
and an improved finishing of the claddings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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To complete the description that will be made below and in order to help to
better understand
the features of the invention according to a preferred practical embodiment
thereof, a set of
drawings is attached as an integral part of said description in which the
following is depicted in
an illustrative and non-limiting manner:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the levelling piece for cladding panels
according to a first
preferred embodiment object of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a front view of the levelling piece according to the first
preferred embodiment
of the invention depicted in the preceding figure.
Figure 3 shows a section view of the levelling piece according to the first
preferred embodiment
depicted in the preceding figures.
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the
levelling piece
depicted in the preceding figures together with a wedge.
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the levelling piece for cladding panels
according to a
second preferred embodiment object of the invention.
Figure 6 shows a front view of the levelling piece according to the second
preferred
embodiment depicted in Figure 5.
Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the
levelling piece
depicted in the preceding Figures 5 and 6 together with a wedge.
Figure 8 shows a section view of the levelling piece according to the first or
second preferred
embodiment of the invention depicted together with a wedge.
Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a known levelling piece depicted together
with a known
wedge.
Figure 10 shows a section view of the known levelling piece and wedge depicted
in Figure 9.
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PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
In view of the indicated Figures 1 to 4, a first preferred embodiment of the
levelling piece (1)
of the invention, which has an inverted T-shaped profile with a flat base (2)
from which an
inverted U-shaped element (3) emerges perpendicularly with respect to the base
(2), can be
seen.
The inverted U-shaped element (3) of the levelling piece (1) is connected to
the base (2) by
two arms (4) defining an opening (5). Advantageously, said opening (5) has a
gable end (7)
located in the portion comprised between the arms (4). This gable end (7) is
the innovative
feature of the levelling piece (1) of the invention which offers a surface
with a differentiating
shape that provides better bonding to the wedge (10) that must pass through
its opening (5).
Moreover, the arms (4) of the levelling piece (1) preferably have notches (6)
which are
arranged at the ends which are connected to the base (2). These notches (6)
facilitate the
weakening and breakage of the inverted U-shaped element when it has to be
separated with
respect to the base. Specifically, this breakage of the levelling piece (1)
will be caused when
the cladding panels (120) are levelled and the bonding material on which said
cladding panels
(120) are placed is dry.
In a second preferred embodiment of the invention depicted in Figures 5, 6,
and 7, it can be
seen that the portion comprised between the arms (4) of the levelling piece
(1') has two right-
angled ends (8), i.e., parallel to the base (2), arranged adjacent to the
gable end (7). In this
sense, the gable end (7) is located centred in the portion comprised between
the arms (4) of
the levelling piece (1'), flanked by the two right-angled ends (8).
This second preferred embodiment of the invention, which has the combination
of right-angled
ends (8) and centred gable end (7), enables the use of wedges (10) with a
gable surface which
is coupled at the gable end (7) of the levelling piece (1') as can be seen in
Figure 7.
Advantageously, the presence of the right-angled ends (8) in this second
preferred
embodiment of the invention allows the use of known wedges (110). In this
sense, when a
levelling piece (1') according to the second preferred embodiment of the
invention is used with
a known wedge (110), such as the wedge (110) depicted in Figure 9, the working
surface of
the wedge (110) will rest only on the right-angled ends (8) for the coupling
between the levelling
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piece (1') and the wedge (110) with a known shape.
As can be seen in Figures 4 and 7, when a wedge (10) is introduced into the
opening (5) of
the levelling piece (1), (1') of any of the preferred embodiments described in
detail, the gable
shape (7) present in the inverted U-shaped element (3) generates better
bonding between the
wedge (10) and the levelling piece (1), (1').
A section view of any of the preferred embodiments of the levelling piece (1),
(1') is depicted
in Figure 8, in which it can be seen that the introduction of the wedge (10)
does not generate
the buckling of the inverted U-shaped element (3), and therefore it is kept
perpendicular with
respect to the base (2). In this sense, the use of the levelling pieces (1),
(1') of the present
invention ensures a minimum opening between the cladding panels (120), and
therefore a
constant separation between them which ensures the aesthetics sought in the
installation of
the cladding.
The inverted U-shaped element being perpendicular with respect to the base (2)
as described
in detail cannot be ensured with respect to the levelling pieces (100) known
to date. In this
sense, as depicted in Figures 9 and 10, in the known levelling pieces (100),
the inverted U-
shaped element deforms and buckles with respect to the base when the levelling
piece (100)
does not have a gable end. In other words, the known levelling pieces (100),
in combination
with known wedges (110) having a flat inclined surface, generate a separation
and opening
between the cladding panels (120) when the levelling piece (100) is not
perpendicular during
use upon applying large forces.
Likewise, the novel shape of the levelling piece (1), (1') of the present
invention causes less
wear of the wedge (10), prolonging its effective service life and generating
self-centring of the
wedge (10) with respect to the levelling piece (1), (1').
It can be seen in Figures 1 and 5 that any of the preferred embodiments of the
invention is
optionally provided with a rib (9) in the inverted U-shaped element, such that
the rib (9) imparts
reinforcement and robustness to the levelling piece (1), (1') to keep it
perpendicular during the
levelling operation involving the wedge (10).
Likewise, as can be seen in any of the figures depicting the preferred
embodiments of the
invention, the ends of the base (2) farthest away from the inverted U-shaped
element (3) of
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the levelling piece (1), (1') have a reduction in thickness, and therefore
allow a reduction in the
amount of material to be used for manufacturing the levelling piece.
Similarly, the base (2) of
any of the preferred embodiments of the invention also has bevelled corners
(2') to reduce the
amount of material used for manufacturing same.
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