Tile Leveling System

Abstract

A tile leveling system for leveling tiles is disclosed. The system has a tile lifter whose transverse member is inserted into the grout gap, and turned to get underneath adjacent tiles. The system has a reusable clamping unit, a U-shaped, possibly flexible, wedge, which is slid through the lifter's vertical shaft to sandwich the tiles between the transverse member and the wedge. The transverse member can be concave up, and the lifter can have two transverse members with spacers on each four-corner junction. The lifter's handle can have a U-shaped hole, which allows a rocker tool to be used to level tiles. Another leveling tool, called a gun tool can be used with any of the lifters. Also proposed are two simpler threaded and zip-tie systems. The leveling devices can be used as needed, thus saving the cost of using them in the entire tiled area.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/516,843, filed on Jun. 8, 2017 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/537,833, filed on Jul. 27, 2017, which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The process of installing a ceramic tiled floor involves a number of steps. First the subfloor is laden with a setting compound such as Thinset, mortar, mastic or any other adhesive material. Typically, one spreads out the setting compound in a localized area, using a trowel. The ceramic tiles are then laid out, and firmly pressed down into the setting compound using a wooden block. A constant spacing, or grout gap, typically 1/16, 3/32, ⅛, 3/16, ¼, 5/16, ⅜, 7/16, ½ or 1 inch, is maintained between the ceramic tiles. This constant spacing is established by using spacers, which are available in many hardware stores.

The ceramic tiles should also be leveled relative to each other. Lippage, the variation in the height of adjoining tiles, detracts from the aesthetic of the finished floor and can also be a trip hazard. Lippage can be the result of height variations in the subfloor, thickness variations of the setting compound, and variations between ceramic tiles. Ceramic tile leveling systems have been developed to reduce lippage during the floor installation process.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,429,878 B1 to Hoffman et al. describes a ceramic tile leveling system that includes a rectangular upright connecting tab that detachably connects to a subtile base traverse member. The subtile base member extends underneath two adjacent ceramic tiles. The ceramic tiles are lifted and leveled when the connecting tab is pulled through a cap base portion

U.S. Pat. No. 7,992,354 B2 to Doda describes a ceramic tile level device that includes a first member that projects upward from a transverse member, which extends underneath two tiles. The first member has an opening that receives a wedge that applies pressure to level the ceramic tiles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A common characteristic of these previous ceramic tile leveling systems is the fact that they must be in place on the setting compound before or as the ceramic tiles are being laid out in the setting compound. Typically, the installer must anticipate that two adjacent ceramic tiles will need to be leveled relative to each other. As the installer sets the first tile down into the setting compound, the transverse member of the tile leveling system must be slid underneath the tile. Then, the adjacent tile must be set down on-top of the other side of the transverse member.

The present invention takes a different approach. The present tile leveling system can be used to level two adjacent tiles after those tiles have already been laid out into the setting compound.

For the purposes of the following discussion, “tile” is any installation material that is laid on a floor in a tiled manner with typically uniform gaps between the separate units of the material. Examples include ceramic tiles, panels, sheets, boards, pieces, paving stones, bricks, natural stone tiles, porcelain tiles, wood tiles, vinyl tiles, metal tiles, glass tiles, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tiles.

An important characteristic is the fact that the width of the transverse member is less than the width of the gap or grout line between tiles. As a result, the transverse member can be slipped into the gap or grout line and pushed down into the setting compound such that the top edge of the transverse member is below the bottom surface of the two adjacent tiles. Then, the leveling unit can be rotated, such as by 90°. This rotation swings the transverse member so that each side is under one of the two adjacent tiles. Then, a lifting unit can be applied to sandwich the two tiles between the leveling unit and the transverse member, thereby leveling the two adjacent tiles.

Another important advantage of the invention can arise if it is used after the tiles are already laid out to fix leveling issues. In such cases the invention needs to be used only in those areas where simpler means fail to level the tiles. Most tiles laid out can be leveled by applying pressure, e.g., by using the reusable wedge or a similar large flat surface. The full use of the invention will typically only be needed in certain areas. The use options of the invention reduce cost by not having to buy too many tile leveling system units.

In general, according to one aspect, the invention features a tile leveling system. It comprises a tile lifter comprising a transverse member and a vertical shaft, wherein a width of the transverse member is equal to or less than a gap between adjacent tiles and a handle of the tile lifter to rotate the tile lifter.

Preferably, at least a bottom end of the vertical shaft has a width that is equal to or less than the gap. A breakaway region can be provided on the vertical shaft allowing the tile lifter to be snapped apart.

In examples, either end of the transverse member is beveled.

In examples, the transverse member is designed to be concave up (curving up) that has minimum surface area in contact with the setting compound for easily rotating it to get its ends under the tiles.

The transverse member and/or the vertical shaft is sized based on a desired gap between tiles. Typical widths include about 1/16, 3/32, ⅛, 3/16, ¼, 5/16, ⅜, 7/16, ½ or 1 inch.

A clamping unit is provided engaging the tile lifter to raise the transverse member against the tiles. It can be a wedge that is inserted around the vertical shaft to engage a bottom face of the handle.

In general, according to one aspect, the invention features a tile leveling method. This method comprises inserting a transverse member of a tile lifter into a gap between adjacent tiles, rotating the transverse member to extend under the tiles, and lifting the tile lifter to level the tiles with respect to each other.

In one aspect of the invention the handle of the lifter is designed to be gripped by one's thumb and fingers, with fingers inserted into a U-shaped space under the handle.

In one aspect of the leveling system, a rocker tool is inserted into the U-shaped space under the handle to lift the tiles.

In one aspect, a “gun tool” is used to lift up tiles to level them.

In two other examples of the leveling system, a lifter with a threaded shaft and a cap and a lifter with a spacer zip-tie shaft with a zip-tie cap are used to level tiles.

In an example, a flexible wedge is used to level tiles.

In an example, a tile lifter is designed especially for the junction of four corners of four tiles by including two perpendicular transverse members. Each transverse member also includes a spacer for tile spacing purposes.

The above and other features of the invention including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, and other advantages, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular method and device embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale; emphasis has instead been placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Of the drawings:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a tile lifter according to the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a U-shaped reusable wedge clamping unit to be used with the tile lifters.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart describing the use of the tile leveling system showing the steps involved in using the invention.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing the tile lifter being inserted into the grout gap 56 between two adjacent tiles 5, 6.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing the transverse member 114 being pushed into the setting compound 7.

FIG. 3C is a perspective view showing the tile lifter being rotated 90 degrees by the handle, and with the transverse member swinging underneath the tiles 5, 6.

FIG. 3D is a perspective view showing the leveling process by using the U-shaped reusable wedge.

FIG. 3E is a perspective view showing the final tile leveling process step by pushing the wedge across the shaft.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the wedge with a flexible bend.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the tile lifter.

FIG. 5B is a perceptive view of a screw-in cap that is used in conjunction with the tile lifter shown in FIG. 5A for tile leveling.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the tile lifter.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of a cap that is used in conjunction with the tile lifter shown in FIG. 6A for tile leveling.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the tile lifter fitted with alternate embodiments of transverse member and handle.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a tile lifter with two perpendicular transverse elements and two co-incident perpendicular spacers.

FIG. 8B is a perspective side view, as viewed along one of the transverse elements, of the tile lifter shown in FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a rocker tool for use in tile leveling using the lifter shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9B is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the leveling process using the rocker tool of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of a gun tool for tile leveling.

FIG. 10B is a perspective view of housing of the gun tool.

FIG. 10C is a perspective view of the trigger arm of the gun tool.

FIG. 10D is a perspective view of the actuator of the gun tool.

FIG. 10E is a perspective view of the gun tool of FIG. 10A being used for tile leveling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 1A shows a tile leveling system, which is been constructed according to the principles of the present invention.

In general, the tile leveling system includes a tile lifter 100 and a reusable wedge 200 (FIG. 1B). The lifter 100 comprises three parts. A transverse member 114 extends generally horizontally in use. A vertical shaft 112 projects vertically preferably from a center region of the transverse member 114. At the top end of the vertical shaft 112 is an integral handle 110 which is generally planar and sized to be grabbed between a thumb and forefinger of an install. The handle 110 has a bottom edge 124. In the illustrated embodiment, the transverse member 114 extends in a transverse direction relative to the handle 110.

An important characteristic of the tile lifter 100 is the width 116 of the transverse member 114. This width 116 and the width 122 of at least the bottom section of the vertical shaft 112 are sized to be equal to or less than the gap or the width of the grout line that is desired or used between the tiles during installation. As a result, the transverse member 114 of the tile lifter 100 can be inserted into the grout gap and then underneath the tiles, even after those tiles have been laid out. This allows the tile lifter to then be rotated 90° to bring the transverse member 114 underneath the two adjacent tiles such that the transverse member extends in a direction that is orthogonal to the lateral extent of the grout gap. Then, the tile lifter 100 can be raised in order to level the two adjacent tiles. The gap that is used between adjacent tiles when those tiles are laid out by the installer is a matter of aesthetics. Common gaps are 1/16, 3/32, ⅛, 3/16, ¼, 5/16, ⅜, 7/16, ½ or 1 inch depending on the style and the size of the tiles used. As a result, in the preferred embodiment, different sized transverse members are used and available depending on the specific grout gap that is being used. For example in different embodiments, the width 116 of the transverse member 114 is about 1/16, 3/32, ⅛, 3/16, ¼, 5/16, ⅜, 7/16, ½ or 1 inch.

In some cases, the lifter will also be used as a tile spacer. In this scenario, the width 122 of at least the bottom section of the vertical shaft 112 is selected or sized to be equal to the desired gap or width of the grout line. As such, when employed as a tile spacer, tile lifters 100 are sold with different widths 122 of the vertical shaft such as the widths 122 being: 1/16, 3/32, ⅛, 3/16, ¼, 5/16, ⅜, 7/16, ½ and 1 inch. As a result, the tile lifters 100 are sold in a package containing 20 or 100 tile lifters having the same width 122.

In addition, the transverse member 114 further preferably comprises beveled ends 114A, 114B. These beveled ends allow the transverse member to more easily slide underneath the bottom surfaces of tiles.

Typically, the tile lifter 100 is constructed as a unitary piece of plastic. It can be formed by 3-D printing or by a molding process, such as injection molding. Preferably, the type of plastic used should have a relatively high brittleness. This allows the vertical shaft 112 to be snapped at a neck down region or breakaway region 118 near the transverse member 114.

FIG. 1B shows an example of a clamping unit that is used in conjunction with the tile lifters 100. In one embodiment, the unit is a U-shaped reusable wedge 200. The wedge 200 has an opening, longitudinal slot 206, whose width is identified as 210, at the narrow end. The wedge can be laid flat on a horizontal surface, such as the surface of a tile 5B or 6B, with contact on either of the two U-shaped surfaces 202 or 204. The base 208 of the wedge is the rectangular plane at the thick end. The opening width 210 is such that when pushed across the shaft 112, the wedge will move through the shaft in a snug yet smooth manner until its thicker end impinges upon the bottom 124 of the handle 110.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 2, which is a flow diagram describing the use of the tile lifting system according to the present invention. Reference will be made to FIGS. 3A through 3E which illustrate the steps of this flow diagram.

In more detail, in the first step 310, the setting compound, such as thinset or mastic 7 is applied to a substrate, e.g., subfloor 9. Then, the tiles can be laid out in their desired pattern. The tile lifters 100 or other spacers can be used to ensure uniform spacing between the tiles.

FIG. 3A shows two exemplary tiles 5, 6 laid out on the subfloor 9, with the setting compound 7 spread out over that subfloor, typically using a slotted trowel, for example.

Also shown is the gap or grout line 56. This gap 56 is characterized by a gap width 58. Generally, spacers, not shown, are used to ensure that this grout gap 56 has a constant width and thus the tiles 5, 6 have a constant spacing with respect to each other. Alternatively, the tile lifters 100 are employed as spacers.

Referring back to FIG. 2, in step 312, before the setting compound 7 dries and/or hardens, the lifter 100 is typically grabbed by the installer at its handle 110. The tile lifter 100 is oriented relative to the gap 56 such that the transverse member 114 extends in a direction that is parallel to the direction of the grout gap 56. Further, the transverse member 120 is oriented directly above the grout gap 56.

In this orientation, the tile lifter 100 is inserted into the gap 56 (see arrow 180, FIG. 3B) such that the transverse member 114 is pushed down into the setting compound 7, possibly engaging the top surface of the subfloor 9 as shown in FIG. 3B. This insertion is made possible by the fact that the width 116 of the transverse member 114 is equal to or less than the gap width 58. Moreover, at least the bottom end of the vertical shaft 112 also has a width 122 that is equal to or less than the gap width 56.

The tile lifter 100 must be inserted into the grout gap 56 to a depth such that the top face 120 of the transverse member 114 is lower than the bottom faces 5A, 6A of the adjacent tiles 5, 6.

With reference back to FIG. 2, in the next step 314, the installer rotates the handle 110 ideally a full 90° so that the transverse member 114 now extends under the two adjacent tiles 5, 6 as shown in FIG. 3C, see arrow 182.

In this orientation, the transverse member 114 of the tile lifter 100 extends orthogonally to the grout gap 56. Each end of the transverse member 114 is under one of the two adjacent tiles 5, 6.

In step 316 of FIG. 2, a clamping unit such as the reusable wedge 200 is then used to level the adjacent tiles 5, 6 using the tile lifter 100.

This is shown in FIG. 3D. The wedge 200 is laid on the top surfaces 6B, 5B of the two adjacent tiles 5, 6. A longitudinal slot 206 of the wedge 200 is aligned with the vertical shaft 112 of the tile lifter 100.

Then, as described in step 320 of FIG. 2, the installer pushes the wedge 200 across the vertical shaft 112 of the tile lifter 100. This brings the top surface 202 of the wedge 200 into contact with the bottom surface 124 of the handle 110 of the tile lifter 100. This is shown in FIG. 3E. This pulls the top face 120 of the transverse member 114 into firm contact with the bottom surfaces 5A, 6A of the adjacent tiles 5, 6, thereby sandwiching the tiles between the bottom surface 204 and the transverse member 114. This clamping process levels the tiles and removes any lippage between those tiles 5, 6.

With reference back to step 320 of FIG. 2, at this stage, the setting compound 7 is allowed to harden or dry. Once the compound is hard, the vertical shaft 112 can be broken off at the breakaway region 118. This leaves only a small remaining portion of the vertical shaft still connected to the transverse member 114, which was below the breakaway region 118. The height of this region, however, is less than the thickness of the tiles 5, 6. Thus, when the grout is filled into the grout gap 56, the remaining portions of the tile lifter 100 will be covered and hidden from sight.

Having described the primary embodiments of the tile leveling system and its components, we now turn to several alternate embodiments of tile leveling systems and components.

FIG. 4 is an alternate embodiment 400 of a wedge with a spring-like flexible bend 403. Its use is analogous to wedge 100, with either the surface 402 or surface 404 lying on top of the tiles. The wedge opening 406 is similar to opening 206 of wedge 200. For example, the width of the opening 410 is the same as the width 210 of wedge 200, thus enabling the wedge 400 to be pushed through the shaft 112 of tile lifter 100. The advantage of this wedge 400 is that it will be easier to push through the shaft because it can be compressed by the tile installer, thus allowing for more even lifting of the tiles by transverse member 114. The wedge has grooved surfaces 402 and 404. When the wedge is pushed through the shaft 112 or 712, the orientation of the grooves, parallel to grout gap 56, causes them to catch the bottom edge of the handle 724 or 124. Pushing the flexible wedge through the shaft gently but firmly as far it will go until the grooves catch the bottom edge is the ideal position for the wedge for lifting the tiles.

FIGS. 5A and 5B together comprise an alternate embodiment of a complete tile leveling/spacing system that consists of a threaded spacer 500A and an accompanying cap 500B. The threaded spacer has a transverse component 514 that has a design identical to the transverse component 114 of tile lifter 100. The threaded spacer's vertical shaft 512 has a width dimension 522, which is analogous to width 122 of the vertical shaft 112 of the tile lifter 100. The opening dimension 542 of the cap is such that it can be screwed in from the top of shaft 512 to the level of the tiles.

As a tile leveling system, the threaded spacer 500A and cap 500B can be used in two ways. First is to use the transverse member 514 as a uniform spacer, and then to screw in the cap 500B all the way down to the level of the tiles and apply pressure on the tiles by aligning the ends of the cap 523A and 523B to be perpendicular to grout gap 56 of FIG. 3A and push down the cap by hand.

The second way to use the threaded spacer and cap system to level tiles is to use the threaded spacer 500A as a tile lifter (much like 100) by turning the traverse member 514 to get underneath adjacent tiles and then use the screw-in cap 500B to apply pressure on the tiles so that transverse member 514 lifts up the tiles and levels them with respect to each other. The spacer shaft 512 can be snapped off at 518, leaving behind the transverse member 514 in the grout gap after the tiles are leveled in a manner comparable to tile lifter 100 being snapped off at the breakaway region 118. The transverse member 514 is later covered with grout and hidden from sight.

FIG. 6A is an embodiment of another tile lifter/spacer called zip-tie spacer 600A. FIG. 6B, with the zip-tie spacer 600A and its cap 600B, shows another embodiment of a complete tile leveling system. The spacer/lifter 600A has a transverse component 614 that is identical in design to the transverse spacer 114 of tile lifter 100. The vertical shaft 612 of the zip-tie spacer has a square cross-section whose diagonal 622 snugly fits through the diagonal of the square opening 642 of the cap. The dimension 622 is designed to allow shaft 612 to pass through and turn in grout gap 56 (FIG. 3A). The lifter/spacer 600A can be inserted between two tiles and used as a spacer to keep uniform spacing between tiles. The zip-tie cap can be easily and quickly slid through the shaft 612 to the level of the tiles.

As a tile leveling system, the zip-tie system of FIG. 6B can be used in one of two ways. First is to simply use the transverse member 614 as a uniform spacer, and then to slide in the cap 600B through the shaft 612 all the way down to the level of the tiles and apply pressure on the tiles by pushing down 600A by hand.

The second way to use the zip-tie system to level tiles is to use the zip-tie spacer 600A as a tile lifter like 100 by turning the traverse member 614 to get underneath adjacent tiles and then to use the zip-tie cap 600B to apply pressure and lift the tiles to level them with respect to each other. The shaft 612 can be snapped off at 618, leaving behind the transverse member 614 in the grout gap, after the tiles are leveled in a manner comparable to tile lifter 100 being snapped off at the breakaway region 118. The transverse member 614 is later covered with grout and hidden from sight.

FIG. 7 is another embodiment of a tile lifter which is to be compared and contrasted with the lifter 100 shown in FIG. 1A. One difference is the concave (curving up) design of the transverse member 714 in contrast with 114 of unit 100. The advantage of the new design is easier rotation of the lifter 714 through setting compound 7 (FIG. 3B) to get the lifter underneath the tiles. Additionally having an edge that curves up allows for freer movement of the setting compound for tile leveling. The other difference between the lifters 700 and 100 is the design of the handles. They both have bottom edges 724 and 124 that can be pushed up against to lift up the lifters. The handle 730 of 700 is easier to grip with one hand due to the U-shaped hollow area 740. The width dimensions 722 and 716 of the shaft 712 and the transverse member 714 are similar to corresponding entities 122 and 116 of lifter 100, and are designed for snug and easy insertion between adjacent tiles set on setting compound 7. The tile lifter 700 has a breakaway region 718, analogous to 118 of 100, to snap the shaft 712 off the transverse member 714.

FIG. 8A shows a tile spacer and tile lifter combination 800 whose design builds upon the tile lifter 700 of FIG. 7. It is specifically designed for the junction defined by the four corners of four tiles. The tile lifter/spacer unit 800 has two perpendicular transverse members 814A and 814B, each of which has carries on top a spacer 844A and 844B. The design of transverse members 814 mirror that of 714. The widths 816, 846 and 822 of the transverse members 814, spacers 844 and vertical shaft 812, respectively, are such that the lifter/spacer combination unit 800 can be inserted through the corner of four tiles and pushed down so that transverse members 814A and 814B go through the setting compound 7 and their top surfaces are just underneath the bottom surface of the tiles. The lifter/spacer unit 800 can then be rotated 45 degrees such that the spacers 844A and 844B stay in place but the transverse members 814A and 814B get underneath diagonal tiles. In other words, as the handle 830 is turned, the transverse members 814 turn with it, but the spacers 844 do not move (stay in place). All four tiles can be simultaneously leveled by using the wedge 100 or 400 and pulling handle 830 up by hand or by other means such as pushing the wedge across the shaft 812 until it impinges on the bottom of handle 824.

FIG. 8B shows a view of the lifter/spacer unit 800 as seen along one of the two spacer/transverse member units 844A/814A or 844B/814B of FIG. 8A. FIG. 8B depicts the view as seen along 844A/814A. When the unit is rotated by 45 degrees after insertion into the space between four tiles, the two tabs 850T break off, leaving the two spacers 844A and 844B in place but rotating the perpendicular transverse members 814A and 814B as a single entity. There are four such tabs, two under each spacer 844A and 844B.

FIG. 9A shows a rocker tool 900 which is used, as shown in FIG. 9B, in yet another embodiment of a tile leveling system using the rocker tool 900, tile lifter 700 (FIG. 7), and wedge 200 (FIG. 1B). The rocker tool lies on top of the tiles 5, 6 and rocks around the roller bar 902. It has two fingers 904 at one end that can be inserted into hollow space 740 of handle 730. The tail or handle on the other end of the rocker tool 906 is used to rock the tool to move the fingers 940 up and down.

The procedure shown in FIG. 9B for using the rocker tool 900 starts with steps analogous to the first three steps 310, 312 and 314 of FIG. 2. Referring to step 310, tile lifter 700 is used here instead of 100. Similar to steps 312 and 314, the shaft 712 is placed into the grout gap 56 and the transverse member 714 (not shown in FIG. 9B) is pushed into the setting compound 7 and turned 90 degrees so that it lies underneath the tiles and perpendicular to grout gap 56 (similar to FIG. 3C). The handle 730 is now parallel to the grout gap. The rocker tool 900 is placed straddling tiles 5 and 6 with the roller 902 located perpendicular to grout gap. One of the fingers 904 is then inserted into the space 740 under the handle 730 by appropriately moving the rocker tool sideways and forward/backward while still keeping roller on top of the two tiles. The wedge 200 is inserted into the vertical shaft 712 using one hand while the other hand pushes down handle 906 of the rocker tool. The result will lift the tiles using upward movement of finger 904 and level them.

A gun tool 1000 is shown in FIG. 10A. Its major parts are the housing 1100 (FIG. 10B), the trigger 1200 (FIG. 10C) and the actuator 1300 (FIG. 10D). FIG. 10E shows an embodiment of the gun tool to level tiles.

The gun tool 1000 is put together by inserting handle 1210 of the trigger arm 1200, in the direction shown by the arrows in FIGS. 10B and 10C, into housing 1100. The tabs 1220 of the trigger arm are hinged to the holes 1120 (only one is shown) of the housing 1100. The handle 1210 will stick out as shown in the back of gun tool 1000 above area 1110B. The actuator 1300 is held in place by trigger arm 1200 at two places: it is hinged using the holes 1330 to tabs 1230 of the trigger, and it is moved up and down by having the hook 1240 of the trigger arm latch into its oval opening 1340. The actuator's lifters 1350 can be moved up/down by moving the trigger handle 1210 down/up by pivoting the trigger around the holes 1120.

The gun tool levels tiles as shown in FIG. 10E in the following manner. After the wedge is inserted though the shaft 112 or 712 following the steps of leveling process (FIG. 3E or 9B), the rectangular end 208 of the wedge (FIG. 1B) is slid into the space 1110F in front of the gun tool until the lifters 1350 of the gun tool get underneath the handle 124 of tile lifter 100 or 724 of tile lifter 700 (depending on which tile lifter is being used). The position of the lifters 1350 is above the surface of the wedge 204 (or 202) and below the bottom of the handles 124 or 724. Now using the trigger handle 1210, the lifters 1350 can be moved up or down. At this point the lifters 1350 of the actuator 1300 of the gun tool can lift the tile lifter 100 or 700 by moving the trigger handle 1210, thus leveling the tiles.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A tile leveling system, comprising:

a tile lifter comprising a transverse member and a vertical shaft, wherein a width of the transverse member is equal to or less than a gap between adjacent tiles; and

a handle of the tile lifter to rotate the tile lifter.

2. A tile lifting system of claim 1, wherein at least a bottom end of the vertical shaft has a width that is equal to or less than the gap.

3. A tile lifting system of claim 1, further comprising a breakaway region on the vertical shaft allowing the tile lifter to be snapped apart.

4. A tile lifting system of claim 1, wherein either end of the transverse member is beveled.

5. A tile lifting system of claim 1, wherein the width of the transverse member is about 1/16, 3/32, ⅛, 3/16, ¼, 5/16, ⅜, 7/16, ½ or 1 inch.

6. A tile lifting system of claim 1, further comprising a clamping unit for engaging the tile lifter to raise the transverse member against the tiles.

7. A tile lifting system of claim 6, wherein the clamping element is a wedge that is inserted around the vertical shaft to engage a bottom face of the handle.

8. A tile leveling method, comprising:

inserting a transverse member of a tile lifter into a gap between adjacent tiles;

rotating the transverse member to extend under the tiles; and

lifting the tile lifter to level the tiles with respect to each other.

9. A tool for engaging the tile leveler at a handle using a gun configuration or rocker configuration.