AU739907B2

AU739907B2 - Tile leveling device

Info

Publication number: AU739907B2
Application number: AU41114/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Tony Armstrong; Nick Doherty
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-03-12
Filing date: 1999-07-26
Publication date: 2001-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 2019-07-26
Also published as: AU4111499A

Description

TILE LEVELLING DEVICE The present invention relates to an improved tiling leveling device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When tiling upright surfaces such as walls, faces of balconies and the like, it is an onerous task to ensure tiles are level. The current practice is through manual support of base plates. The manual method used for supporting the base plate is through a process of mixing sand and cement, and then individually bedding all supports to their correct positions. This process requires ailbeds to fully cure before any load can be applied to the supports.

This curing time, on average, is approximately two hours. Another alternative is that timber levels are nailed to the wall. The nailing of these timber levels can result in water pipes or electrical cable being damaged. In addition, where the floor or wall surface is not level the task becomes even more difficult.

Leveling support systems do exist, however they require locking devices to be used to lock them in place, such as, nuts and bolts or clamps. These leveling support systems can be time consuming and awkward to erect and to dismantle, and may loosen if not locked tightly. In addition, as they have separate locking systems, the actually locking device (eg. clamp) may be 20 misplaced rendering the leveling support system inoperable. The locking device can also become blocked with- cement, grout or other material causing the device not to lock completely, if at all.

It is an object of this invention to provide tradespeople with an improved tile leveling device which overcomes the above limitations, and which is accomplished in the following manner: BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 0 The new tile leveling device comprises of an upright post which is housed on a base plate. An additional adjustable plate, with an aperture at one end, slides over the upright post, and can be positioned on the post at the desired level. The adjustable plate is automatically locked into place through the top rear edge of the aperture and the bottom front end edge of the aperture gripping the upright post when the plate is allowed to rest unaided. The adjustable plate may be released from its locked position, by raising the front 3 end of the adjustable plate and thereby reducing the grip of the adjustable plate on the upright post.

A number of tile leveling devices are placed against the wall to be tiled and the adjustable plates are adjusted to the level required. A level surface is then placed on the adjustable plate which is then used as the level for setting the first course of tiles. This ensures all subsequent courses are also level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above and additional objects and advantages in view, as will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described by way of example and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment in which: Figure 1 is a right side view of the tile leveling device according to the present invention Figure 2 is a left side view of the tile leveling device; Figures 3 and 4 are the front and back views of the tile leveling device; Figure 5 is a top view of the tile leveling device; Figure 6 is a bottom view of the tile leveling device; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the tile leveling device; Figure 8 is a top view of the adjustable plate; 20 Figure 9 is a bottom view of the adjustable plate DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the various figures of the drawings, like reference characters designate like parts.

The adjustable plate 1 is rectangular in shape with an aperture 5 cut in one end of the adjustable plate 1. The shape of the aperture 5 is of the same shape as that of the upright post 3.

The mounting unit consists of an upright post 3 which is attached to a rectangular base plate 2. The upright post 3 is placed through the aperture of the adjustable plate 1 so the adjustable plate 1 can be moved up and down 4 4 *4 4 4 4 on the upright post 3. An end cap 4 sits at the top of the upright post 3 to ensure that the adjustable plate 1 cannot be removed from the upright post 3.

The tile leveling device is placed against the upright surface. The adjustable plate 1 is then Mnoved to the correct level and when released remains in place through two self-locking points 6 and 7. A level, straight edge surface is then laid across the adjustable plate 1 providing the level surface for the first course of tiles. To change the level, the adjustable plate 1 may be released from its locked position, by raising the front end of the adjustable plate 1 and thereby reducing the grip of the adjustable plate 1 on the upright post 3.

Numerous alterations of the structures herein discussed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to preferred embodiments of the invention which are for the purpose of illustration only, and are not to be construed as a limitation of the invention.

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Claims

1. CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: A tile leveling device comprising: an L-shaped mounting unit with an adjustable plate attached; said mounting units has a rectangular base plate with an upright post at one end; said adjustable plate has an aperture at one end which is placed over the said upright post; said aperture ha two self-locking edges; said upright post has an end cap at the top of the upright post.

2. A tile leveling device according to claim 1 wherein the upright post is 0 0 *000 0 0 0* 0 0 0 cylindrical.

3. A tile leveling device according to claim 1 wherein flat-sided.

4. A tile leveling device according to claim 1 wherein 15 attached to the base plate through welds;

5. A tile leveling device according to claim 1 wherein attached to the base plate through hinges;

6. A tile leveling device according to claim 1 wherein attached to the base plate through plastic molding;

7. A tile leveling device according to claim 1 wherein attached to the base plate through metal molding; the upright post is the upright post is the upright post is the upright post is the upright post is

8. A tile leveling device according to claim 1 wherein the end cap is removable;

9. A tile leveling device according to claim 1 wherein the end cap is permanently attached through welds; A tile leveling device according to claim 1 wherein the end cap is permanently attached through plastic molding; 6

11. A tile leveling device according to claim 1 wherein the end cap is permanently attached through metal molding;

12. A tile leveling device, said device being substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 23 July 2001 Nick Doh rty Tony Armstrong C C CC Co