Tile Leveling System

Abstract

A tile leveling system includes a fixture and a rotary member mounted on the fixture. The fixture includes a base, at least one spacer integrally formed on the base, and a connecting portion formed on the at least one spacer. The at least one spacer is provided with a breaking point. The connecting portion has a top having a central position provided with an internal thread. The connecting portion has two sides each having a top provided with a shoulder. The rotary member is provided with a hollow receiving chamber which has an inner diameter slightly greater than the maximum width defined by an outer edge of the at least one spacer. A threaded rod is mounted in the hollow receiving chamber and is screwed into the internal thread.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a leveling system and, more particularly, to a tile leveling system.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional tile leveling system in accordance with the prior art shown in FIGS. 1-3 comprises a fixture 10 and a rotary member 15 mounted on the fixture 10. The fixture 10 includes a base 11 provided with a plurality of protruding blocks 12, and a threaded rod 13 mounted on and protruding from the base 11. The base 11 has a center provided with a connecting portion 14. The connecting portion 14 is provided with a spacer 17 which is connected with the threaded rod 13. The connecting portion 14 and the spacer 17 have a connection formed with a breaking point. The rotary member 15 has a cylindrical shape and has an interior provided with an internal thread 16 and a receiving space 19. The internal thread 16 of the rotary member 15 is screwed onto the threaded rod 13 of the fixture 10. The rotary member 15 has an end face provided with a resting portion 18 resting on two tiles “P1” and “P2” for leveling the tiles “P1” and “P2”. After pavement of the tiles is finished, the operator can kick or strike the rotary member 15 by feet, hands or hammers to break the breaking point of the fixture 10, so that the connecting portion 14 and the spacer 17 are detached from each other. However, when the internal thread 16 of the rotary member 15 is screwed on and rotated relative to the threaded rod 13 of the fixture 10, the threaded rod 13 of the fixture 10 is easily vibrated by rotation of the rotary member 15, so that the breaking point of the fixture 10 is easily broken due to vibration of the threaded rod 13. In addition, the fixture 10 has a complicated structure, thereby increasing the cost of fabrication. Further, the fixture 10 cannot be reused and has to be thrown away after usage, thereby wasting the material. Further, the threaded rod 13 of the fixture 10 protrudes outward from the rotary member 15 as shown in FIG. 3, so that the operator easily hits the threaded rod 13 when kicking or striking the rotary member 15, thereby causing danger to the operator.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a tile leveling system comprising a fixture and a rotary member mounted on the fixture. The fixture includes a base, at least one spacer integrally formed on and extending upward from the base, and a connecting portion formed on and extending upward from the at least one spacer. The at least one spacer is provided with a breaking point. The connecting portion has a top having a central position provided with an internal thread. The connecting portion of the fixture has two sides each having a top provided with a shoulder. The rotary member is provided with a hollow receiving chamber which has an inner diameter slightly greater than the maximum width defined by an outer edge of the at least one spacer. A threaded rod is mounted in the hollow receiving chamber of the rotary member and is screwed into the internal thread of the fixture.

According to the primary advantage of the present invention, the threaded rod does not protrude outward from the rotary member to protect the operator's safety when the operator kicks or strikes the rotary member.

According to another advantage of the present invention, the fixture will not be vibrated during rotation of the rotary member thereby preventing the breaking point of the fixture from being worn or broken due to vibration of the fixture.

According to a further advantage of the present invention, the fixture has a simplified structure, thereby decreasing the cost of fabrication.

According to a further advantage of the present invention, the rotary member can be reused so as to save the cost of material and to prevent waste of the material.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional tile leveling system in accordance with the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a front exploded cross-sectional view of the conventional tile leveling system as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic operational assembly view showing practice of the conventional tile leveling system as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a tile leveling system in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a locally enlarged view of the tile leveling system as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a partially cross-sectional assembly view of the tile leveling system as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is another partially cross-sectional assembly view of the tile leveling system as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a partially exploded perspective view showing usage of the tile leveling system for a first tile.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the tile leveling system as shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a schematic operational view of the tile leveling system as shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a schematic operational view of the tile leveling system as shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the tile leveling system for leveling the first tile and the second tile.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the tile leveling system for leveling multiple first tiles and multiple second tiles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 4-7, a tile leveling system in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a fixture 20 and a rotary member 30 mounted on the fixture 20. The fixture 20 includes a base 21, at least one spacer 22 integrally formed on and extending upward from the base 21, and a connecting portion 24 formed on and extending upward from the at least one spacer 22. The at least one spacer 22 is provided with a breaking point 23. The connecting portion 24 has a top having a central position provided with an internal thread 26. The connecting portion 24 of the fixture 20 has two sides each having a top provided with a shoulder 25.

The rotary member 30 is provided with a hollow receiving chamber 31 which has an inner diameter slightly greater than the maximum width defined by an outer edge of the at least one spacer 22. A threaded rod 33 is mounted in the hollow receiving chamber 31 of the rotary member 30 and is screwed into the internal thread 26 of the fixture 20.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fixture 20 includes a spacer 22 which is centered at a central point of the base 21.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fixture 20 includes a plurality of spacers 22 which are centered at a central point of the base 21 and are equally spaced from each other.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shoulder 25 of the fixture 20 has an arcuate shape.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the threaded rod 33 has a top provided with a limit portion 331. The rotary member 30 has a top provided with a through hole 32 connected to the hollow receiving chamber 31. The through hole 32 of the rotary member 30 has two sides each provided with a locking portion 321 for locking the limit portion 331 of the threaded rod 33, so that the threaded rod 33 is locked onto the rotary member 30 and extends into the hollow receiving chamber 31.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the threaded rod 33 and the rotary member 30 are made of plastic material.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the threaded rod 33 and the rotary member 30 are made of different material.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the threaded rod 33 is made of metallic material, and the rotary member 30 is made of plastic material.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the threaded rod 33 and the rotary member 30 are made of plastic material and are formed integrally.

In operation, referring to FIGS. 8-12 with reference to FIGS. 4-7, after cement is applied on a ground, a first tile “P1” is placed on the cement. Then, the fixture 20 is mounted on the first tile “P1”, with the base 21 being inserted between the first tile “P1” and the cement. At this time, the first tile “P1” abuts a first side of the at least one spacer 22 as shown in FIG. 8. Then, a second tile “P2” is placed on the cement and abuts a second side of the at least one spacer 22, with the at least one spacer 22 being sandwiched between the first tile “P1” and the second tile “P2”. At this time, the first tile “P1” and the second tile “P2” are juxtaposed to each other. In addition, the threaded rod 33 extends through the through hole 32 of the rotary member 30 into the hollow receiving chamber 31 of the rotary member 30, and the limit portion 331 of the threaded rod 33 is locked by the locking portion 321 of the rotary member 30, so that the threaded rod 33 is locked onto the rotary member 30 and received in the hollow receiving chamber 31 of the rotary member 30. In such a manner, the threaded rod 33 is fully received in the hollow receiving chamber 31 of the rotary member 30 so that the threaded rod 33 will not protrude outward from the rotary member 30 to protect an operator's safety when the operator is kicking the rotary member 30 by feet or striking the rotary member 30 by hands. Then, the rotary member 30 is mounted on and rotated relative to the fixture 20 so that the rotary member 30 is moved downward relative to the fixture 20 in a swiveling manner. When the inner diameter of the hollow receiving chamber 31 touches and moves downward along the shoulder 25 of the connecting portion 24 of the fixture 20, the inner diameter of the hollow receiving chamber 31 is guided smoothly by the arcuate profile of the shoulder 25 to the connecting portion 24 of the fixture 20 as shown in FIG. 10, so that the threaded rod 33 is screwed into the internal thread 26 of the fixture 20 easily and precisely. When the rotary member 30 is further rotated and moved downward relative to the fixture 20, the inner diameter of the hollow receiving chamber 31 is slightly greater than the maximum width of the at least one spacer 22, so that the inner diameter of the rotary member 30 is limited and supported by the outer edge of the at least one spacer 22, to prevent the fixture 20 from being vibrated during rotation of the rotary member 30, thereby preventing the breaking point 23 of the fixture 20 from being broken due to vibration of the fixture 20. The rotary member 30 is further rotated and moved downward relative to the fixture 20, until the bottom of the rotary member 30 touches and presses the first tile “P1” and the second tile “P2” as shown in FIG. 12, so that the first tile “P1” and the second tile “P2” are leveled by pressing of the rotary member 30. After the cement is dried, the operator can kick or strike the rotary member 30, to break the breaking point 23 of the fixture 20, so that the rotary member 30 and the fixture 20 are detached from the first tile “P1” and the second tile “P2”, with the base 21 being located beneath the first tile “P1” and the second tile “P2”. Then, the fixture 20 is rotated relative to and removed from the rotary member 30, so that the at least one spacer 22 and the connecting portion 24 of the fixture 20 can be disposed of, and the rotary member 30 can be reused.

As shown in FIG. 13, multiple first tiles “P1” and multiple second tiles “P2” are leveled by multiple tile leveling systems.

Accordingly, the threaded rod 33 does not protrude outward from the rotary member 30 to protect the operator's safety when the operator kicks or strikes the rotary member 30. In addition, the fixture 20 will not be vibrated during rotation of the rotary member 30, thereby preventing the breaking point 23 of the fixture 20 from being worn or broken due to vibration of the fixture 20. Further, the fixture 20 has a simplified structure, thereby decreasing the cost of fabrication. Further, the rotary member 30 can be reused so as to save the cost of material and to prevent waste of the material.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A tile leveling system comprising:

a fixture; and

a rotary member mounted on the fixture;

wherein:

the fixture includes:

a base;

at least one spacer integrally formed on and extending upward from the base; and

a connecting portion formed on and extending upward from the at least one spacer;

the at least one spacer is provided with a breaking point;

the connecting portion has a top having a central position provided with an internal thread;

the connecting portion of the fixture has two sides each having a top provided with a shoulder;

the rotary member is provided with a hollow receiving chamber which has an inner diameter slightly greater than the maximum width defined by an outer edge of the at least one spacer; and

a threaded rod is mounted in the hollow receiving chamber of the rotary member and is screwed into the internal thread of the fixture.

2. The tile leveling system of claim 1, wherein the fixture includes a spacer which is centered at a central point of the base.

3. The tile leveling system of claim 1, wherein the fixture includes a plurality of spacers which are centered at a central point of the base and are equally spaced from each other.

4. The tile leveling system of claim 1, wherein the shoulder of the fixture has an arcuate shape.

5. The tile leveling system of claim 1, wherein:

the threaded rod has a top provided with a limit portion;

the rotary member has a top provided with a through hole connected to the hollow receiving chamber; and

the through hole of the rotary member has two sides each provided with a locking portion for locking the limit portion of the threaded rod, so that the threaded rod is locked onto the rotary member and extends into the hollow receiving chamber.

6. The tile leveling system of claim 1, wherein the threaded rod and the rotary member are made of plastic material.

7. The tile leveling system of claim 1, wherein the threaded rod and the rotary member are made of different material.

8. The tile leveling system of claim 7, wherein the threaded rod is made of metallic material, and the rotary member is made of plastic material.

9. The tile leveling system of claim 1, wherein the threaded rod and the rotary member are made of plastic material and are formed integrally.