LEVELLING PIECE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a levelling piece for cladding panels, which has an inverted T-shaped profile, provided with a flat base from which an inverted U-shaped element emerges perpendicularly, connected by two arms defining an opening, which has a gable end. The gable shape of the levelling piece guides the wedge into a centred position with respect to the levelling piece during use, 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.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

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

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 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.

SUMMARY

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 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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the levelling piece for cladding panels according to a first preferred embodiment object of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the levelling piece according to the first preferred embodiment of the invention depicted in the preceding figure.

FIG. 3 shows a section view of the levelling piece according to the first preferred embodiment depicted in the preceding figures.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the levelling piece depicted in the preceding figures together with a wedge.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the levelling piece for cladding panels according to a second preferred embodiment object of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of the levelling piece according to the second preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the levelling piece depicted in the preceding FIGS. 5 and 6 together with a wedge.

FIG. 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.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a known levelling piece depicted together with a known wedge.

FIG. 10 shows a section view of the known levelling piece and wedge depicted in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In view of the indicated FIGS. 1-4, 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 FIGS. 5-7, 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 FIG. 7.

Advantageously, the presence of the right-angled ends (8) in this second 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 FIG. 9, the working surface of the wedge (110) will rest only on the right-angled ends (8) for the coupling between the levelling piece (1′) and the wedge (110) with a known shape.

As can be seen in FIGS. 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 FIG. 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 FIGS. 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 FIGS. 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 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.

Claims

1. A levelling piece for cladding panels, wherein the levelling piece has an inverted T-shaped profile with a flat base from which an inverted U-shaped element emerges perpendicularly, andwherein the inverted U-shaped element is connected to the base by two arms defining an opening which has a gable end in a portion comprised defined between the arms.

2. The levelling piece according to claim 1, wherein the portion defined between the arms has two right-angled ends arranged adjacent to the gable end, wherein the gable end is disposed centred in the portion defined between the arms.

3. The levelling piece according to claim 1, wherein the inverted U-shaped element.

4. The levelling piece according to claim 1, wherein ends of the base farthest away from the inverted U-shaped element have a reduction in thickness.

5. The levelling piece according to claim 1, wherein the base has bevelled corners.

6. The levelling piece according to claim 1, wherein the arms have notches at respective ends which are connected to the base.

7. The levelling piece according to claim 2, wherein the inverted U-shaped element has a rib.

8. The levelling piece according to claim 2, wherein the arms have notches at respective ends which are connected to the base.

9. The levelling piece according to claim 3, wherein the arms have notches at respective ends which are connected to the base.

10. The levelling piece according to claim 4, wherein the arms have notches at respective ends which are connected to the base.

11. The levelling piece according to claim 5, wherein the arms have notches at respective ends which are connected to the base.

12. The levelling piece according to claim 7, wherein the arms have notches at respective ends which are connected to the base.