Flooring, Floor Or Wall Covering, Or Molding Patents (Class 33/526)
  • Patent number: 11624194
    Abstract: A tile spacing device and accompanying system and method are disclosed for spacing a plurality of tiles having a contour. In one embodiment of the tile spacing device, the tile spacing device includes a U-shaped band having a body with two branches extending parallel therefrom and an opening therebetween. An arm having a lateral end extends proximally from one of the branches into the opening. Two interlocking connectors are respectively positioned on the body at the opening and on the arm. In one embodiment of the system, two tile spacing devices complimentarily releasably mate when the tile spacing devices are opposing and perpendicularly displaced to interlock the interlocking connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Acufloor, LLC
    Inventors: Clinton D. Bunch, Joshua A. Bunch
  • Patent number: 11603672
    Abstract: A floor tapping block is described. The floor tapping block includes a planar base having a front downward facing tongue extending below the planar base. The planar base has a track attached to a top surface thereof. A handle portion having a groove can be fitted over the track on the planar base. The handle portion having a front face configured to be hit with a hammer. This portion can be a flat portion raised from the handle. A locking pin to secure the handle portion to the planar base. The locking pin may be a spring biased pin that locks into predefined locking holes in the planar base. The locking pin may also be a combination of a screw and a nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Inventor: Michael Apt
  • Patent number: 11473316
    Abstract: A rainscreen panel may be installed using tools for spacing, positioning, and attaching the rainscreen to a supporting structure. A rainscreen installation tool may have a first short leg and a second and third long leg extending from a center. One of the long legs may be orthogonal to the short leg and the other parallel to the short leg. The rainscreen installation tool may also have a fourth short leg extending from the center which is orthogonal to the first short leg. One or more of the rainscreen installation tools may be positioned with one of the short legs between an installed rainscreen panel and new rainscreen panel so that the new panel is appropriately spaced from the installed rainscreen panel. A fastener may be positioned at an edge of the rainscreen installation tool in order to secure the new rainscreen panel to the supporting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: RAINSCREEN CONSULTING, LLC
    Inventor: Beau D. Preston
  • Patent number: 11242688
    Abstract: A device for levelling tiles includes a traction member having a base which can be inserted below two or more of the tiles which are adjacent at mutual edges, and a C-shaped element extending from the base, the free ends of its wings being associated with the base. The device further includes a wedge having a surface with a serrated profile for interaction with the traction member at an edge of the core of the C-shaped element. The wedge is insertable inside the C-shaped element of the traction member between the wings thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: PROGRESS PROFILES SPA
    Inventor: Dennis Bordin
  • Patent number: 10151118
    Abstract: A tile leveller and spacer system that allows rapid and reliable spacing and levelling of tools is described. The tile spacer comprises a base for locating the spacer under the tiles, and a stem that includes an alignment cross which is used to correctly space the tiles. The stem tile spacer is placed over the stem and engages with teeth on the stem. The tile leveller is pushed down over the stem to level the tiles between the base and the bottom of the tile leveller. The stem further comprises a frangible portion located between the base and the tile alignment portion, and when the stem is pulled with sufficient force, the frangible portion breaks to allow removal of the stem. A hand tool may be used to assist in this process. The hand tool can have an adjustable stop which can be set to a first setting to level the tiles, and a second setting to cause the frangible portion to break, allowing removal of the stem and leveller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: ME Innovations Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Irvine, Enzo Nudo
  • Patent number: 9915061
    Abstract: The toilet flange adapter tile is adapted for use with flooring tiles. The toilet flange adapter tile is further adapted for use with toilets. The toilet flange adapter tile is a preformed tile that comprises an aperture that is sized to fit around the floor flange and fixture gasket of a standard plumbing hook up for a toilet. The toilet flange adapter tile further comprises a plurality of scoring lines that allow the toilet flange adapter tile to be readily cut to fit into the master tile pattern the toilet flange adapter tile is being integrated. The toilet flange adapter tile further comprises a plurality of mounting holes that allow the toilet flange adapter tile to be secured to the under flooring during installation. The toilet flange adapter tile is a tile that further comprises an aperture, a plurality of mounting holes; and a plurality of scoring lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Guy DeFalco
  • Patent number: 9874032
    Abstract: A tile leveling structure includes a fixture and a leveling member mounted on the fixture. The fixture includes a base, an adjusting plate extending upward from the base, and a oneway toothed rack mounted on the adjusting plate. The base and the adjusting plate have a connection formed with a breaking point. The leveling member is provided with a passage through which the adjusting plate passes. The leveling member has a bottom provided with a pressing face is provided with a first locking portion and a second locking portion. The leveling member is provided with a first wing and a second wing. The first wing is provided with a first hook which is provided with a first abutting face. The second wing is provided with a second hook which is provided with a second abutting face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Plus Craft Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Timmy Chen
  • Patent number: 9562365
    Abstract: A two part device is used in leveling and spacing tiles. The device includes two parts, a rotatable portion called a knob-cam and a fixed portion called hook-base. The hook-base includes ribs for spacing and separating tiles, and a neck portion extending through a slot opening in the knob-cam. In use, the hook-base portion is set down and tiles are laid down and spaced by the ribs of the base portion. The neck portion extends upwardly above the tiles, and is adapted to be broken away upon application of sufficient upward force or sideways force. The knob-cam includes two diametral opposed frontal action cam surfaces that engage portions of the hook when the knob-cam is rotated. The knob-cam is rotated until the tiles are secured between the knob-cam and the hook-base. This clamps the corners or edges of the tiles, making coplanar upper surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Metronic Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Doru Bucsa
  • Patent number: 9470002
    Abstract: A tile leveller and spacer system that allows rapid and reliable spacing and levelling of tools is described. The tile spacer comprises a base for locating the spacer under the tiles, and a stem that includes an alignment cross which is used to correctly space the tiles. The stem tile spacer is placed over the stem and engages with teeth on the stem. The tile leveller is pushed down over the stem to level the tiles between the base and the bottom of the tile leveller. The stem further comprises a frangible portion located between the base and the tile alignment portion, and when the stem is pulled with sufficient force, the frangible portion breaks to allow removal of the stem. A hand tool may be used to assist in this process. The hand tool can have an adjustable stop which can be set to a first setting to level the tiles, and a second setting to cause the frangible portion to break, allowing removal of the stem and leveller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: ME INNOVATIONS PTY LTD
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Irvine, Enzo Nudo
  • Patent number: 9447590
    Abstract: A levelling spacer device (10) for laying slab products (P) for cladding surfaces, which device (10) comprises a base (20), positionable on a backside of a laying surface of at least two slab products (P) that are adjacent and flanked with respect to a flanking direction (A), at least a separator element (30) emerging from the base (20), able to contact the facing flanks of the two slab products (P), and mobile between a storage position in which it lies substantially parallel to the base (20) and a work position in which it emerges substantially perpendicular to the base (20); the peculiarity of the device consisting in the fact of comprising blocking means (250, 311) of the separator element (30) in the work position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: RAIMONDI S.P.A.
    Inventor: Riccardo Sighinolfi
  • Patent number: 9404726
    Abstract: A profile gauge contains: a body, a holding plate, a plurality of slidable measuring members, and a locking assembly. The body is formed in an elongated plate shape and includes an accommodating chamber defined thereon and two ruling portions parallelly arranged on two sides of the accommodating chamber, wherein each ruling portion has a graduation for measuring a distance between two points of a profile curve line of an object. The holding plate is rectangular and includes an insertion extending outwardly from a first end thereof and an extension extending outwardly from a second end thereof. Each slidable measuring member includes a fixed thickness and an elongated aperture defined thereon, wherein a width of the elongated aperture is more than a width between the two sides of the holding plate. The locking assembly is fixed on the extension to limit a slidable movement of each slidable measuring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Inventor: Yung-Long Shu
  • Patent number: 9340986
    Abstract: A multi spacing decking tool allows comprising an elongated planar body provided with a plurality of spacers which have V-shaped teeth allows the installer to achieve the even gaps between decking planks and boards by accommodating up to six decking boards at a time, cutting the time it takes to achieve the gaps between boards. The V-shaped teeth enable the gauge to smoothly slot in between each plank or board and will set the same even gap throughout the work surface. The multi spacing decking tool allows the installer to achieve a faster installation of the decking boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventor: John Hamilton
  • Patent number: 9145692
    Abstract: A tool and method for marking dimensions for cutting a tile include a platform with a front wall defining an x axis, a side wall defining a y axis, with the y axis being perpendicular to the x axis, and a front guideline defining an x? axis parallel to the x axis. Also included are a plurality of extendable fingers which are manually extendable to releasably retained protracted positions. A conformable member is disposed at the distal end of each finger, and is configured to conformably match the contour of an obstruction. The platform is configured for superposed alignment with an installed tile adjacent to an area with the obstruction, and also for alignment with a loose tile to be cut. The conformable members provide a guide for marking the surface of the loose tile to accommodate the obstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Inventor: Peter G. Saravanos
  • Patent number: 9121187
    Abstract: A tile spacing device and accompanying system and method are disclosed for spacing a plurality of tiles having a contour. In one embodiment, the tile spacing device includes two parallel bodies connected by at least one spanning member. The first body, the second body, and the at least one spanning member form a cage-like fused-member structure having a four-tile engagement configuration, a three-tile engagement configuration, and a two-tile engagement configuration, respectively. Within each of the three engagement configurations, engagement of a tile with a spacer can be seen by a user through the cage-like fused-member structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Inventors: Clinton D. Bunch, Joshua A. Bunch
  • Publication number: 20150027082
    Abstract: A tile aligning and lippage tuning system that uses an under tile base interstitial strap, which is connected to said under tile base, a shim shell cap configured to slip over the connecting tab. A bottom tile mating shim and a top shim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: James P. Hoffman, Ernest L. Perry, IV, Michele Volponi
  • Patent number: 8931237
    Abstract: An abutment device, in particular for laying floor elements, is proposed, comprising a first abutment element with a first abutment face and a second abutment face, which is oriented transversely to the first abutment face, and a second abutment element with a third abutment face, which is oriented transversely to the first abutment face, and which second abutment element is slidingly displaceably guided in a fixable manner on the first abutment element, a spacing between the first abutment face and the third abutment face being fixably adjustable, the first abutment element, on a side opposite to the first abutment face, having a recess, which is limited by an edge and in which the second abutment element is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: BESSEY Tool GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gerhard Kloepfer, Hans Roesch, Thomas Klein, Roger Zampolli, Michael Duss
  • Publication number: 20150007525
    Abstract: An adjustable tile spacer is described. In one example, the tile spacer includes a first support bar connected to a first spacer arm. The first spacer arm has a top face to abut a wall and support a tile. A second support bar is movably connected to the first support bar. A second spacer arm is connected the second support bar. The first spacer arm has a bottom face to abut a wall and to support the second support bar against a tile. A lock fixes the first and the second support bars in a position with respect to each other when the lock is engaged to define a distance between the top face and the bottom face corresponding to a gap between two tiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Christopher S. Kitchens
  • Patent number: 8881418
    Abstract: A mechanical spacing apparatus for placement between a vertical dry wall member and a horizontal flooring panel. The flooring panel and the dry-wall member meet at right angles. The spacing apparatus comprises a horizontal front projecting element for placement on the top surface of the flooring panel joined to a vertical upwards projecting element for abutting adjacent to the vertical dry-wall member. The spacing apparatus comprises horizontal and vertical elements at right angles. Projecting vertically downwards from the right angle join between the horizontal and vertical elements is a spacing element having a predetermined thickness for creating a suitable spacing distance between the inward edge of the flooring panel and the bottom of the vertical dry-wall member thereby accommodating a suitable expansion distance for the flooring installation. The apparatus is easily installed and removed by hand by a flooring installer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Inventor: William E. Funk
  • Patent number: 8881419
    Abstract: A deck plank spacer and fastener guide tool has a lightweight, unitary body having an elongated first bar member and a second bar member extending perpendicularly downward from the first bar member. A fastening guide member extends upwardly from and outwardly of the second bar member at an oblique angle in relation to the second bar member. An open slot extends completely through the fastening guide member for the insertion of a fastener, such as a nail or a bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Inventor: Mark Madrack
  • Publication number: 20140230361
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide apparatuses and methods for installing tile with a tile installation guide. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tile installation guide comprising a guide body having a polygonal outer surface and an opening configured to surround a non-polygonal element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventor: Timothy J. Wood
  • Patent number: 8793889
    Abstract: A carpenter's deck board and fastener positioning tool has a first, proximal part which rests temporarily on the top of a joist, and a second, distal part which rests temporarily on the top of a deck board to be installed. The first, proximal part has a pair of spaced-apart, downwardly extending tabs, one for extending along each side of the joist. This way, when the tool is placed on the joist, the tabs center the tool on the joist. The second, distal part is a longitudinal, substantially flat plate extending from the first, proximal part parallel to the joist, for resting on top of the deck board to be installed when the board is resting transversely on the joist. On or in the flat plate are fastener placements for enabling or indicating the proper location of fasteners for effectively connecting the deck board to the joist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Inventor: James D. Hovren
  • Patent number: 8684717
    Abstract: Provided is a floor construction apparatus that includes a guide unit that is disposed on surface of a floor to be constructed, and a flattening unit that is guided by the guide unit, to then be transferred to flatten the surface of the floor to be constructed, and to thereby reduce a construction time and expense for flattening of the construction surface of the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventors: Ju Tae Kim, Kyong Hwa Lee
  • Patent number: 8635815
    Abstract: A leveling spacer for laying wall tiles, paving tiles and the like with the interposition of gaps, which comprises a base with spacing protrusions for the abutment of the edges of corresponding tiles so as to define the width of the gaps, a threaded stem, which is fixed at right angles to the base in at least one easily breakable point, a knob for clamping and removing the threaded stem, which comprises a female threaded portion adapted to be screwed to the threaded stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Progress Profiles SpA
    Inventor: Lino Bordin
  • Publication number: 20130327465
    Abstract: A template for installing tile on a vertical or horizontal surface that includes a substrate having a plurality of lines printed on said substrate wherein said lines are configured to substantially replicate the actual size of at least two tiles and a width of grout adjacent said tiles. The template may be a stand-alone layout guide, or may also be configured to be applied to the horizontal or vertical surface using grout or mastic so that a user can replicate a pattern by applying the tile directly to the layout guide. A method for installing tile using the template including applying a first layer of adhesive upon a surface, applying the template over the first layer of adhesive, applying a second layer of adhesive directly to a tile; and applying the buttered tile directly its corresponding location on the template.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Robert A. Borusheski
  • Publication number: 20130263462
    Abstract: A mechanical spacing apparatus for placement between a vertical dry wall member and a horizontal flooring panel. The flooring panel and the dry-wall member meet at right angles. The spacing apparatus comprises a horizontal front projecting element for placement on the top surface of the flooring panel joined to a vertical upwards projecting element for abutting adjacent to the vertical dry-wall member. The spacing apparatus comprises horizontal and vertical elements at right angles. Projecting vertically downwards from the right angle join between the horizontal and vertical elements is a spacing element having a predetermined thickness for creating a suitable spacing distance between the inward edge of the flooring panel and the bottom of the vertical dry-wall member thereby accommodating a suitable expansion distance for the flooring installation. The apparatus is easily installed and removed by hand by a flooring installer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventor: William E. Funk
  • Patent number: 8510963
    Abstract: A tool for tracing a curve from a first plane (such as a wall) onto a second plane perpendicular to the first plane (such as a floor tile) is disclosed. The tool includes a base member having opposite first and second ends with first and second sliders positioned on the base member adjacent the first and second ends, respectively. The sliders are configured to bear against the first plane simultaneously. The tool also includes an arm extending away from the base member with a marking tool positioned at an end of the arm opposite the base member. The marking tool is configured to mark the second plane while the first and second sliders bear against the first plane. The base member is preferably articulated and each of the sliders preferably consist of pairs of coaxially aligned wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Vladimir Kraljevic
  • Patent number: 8418373
    Abstract: A method preparing for tiling a surface generally includes the steps of: measuring the surface with a cable measuring device to produce a digitized plan of the surface; displaying a plurality of possible tile layout for the surface on a display of a computer containing the produced digitized plan and programmed to display tile layouts for the surface depending on parameters including tile size, grout width, and tile orientation; selecting a tile layout, and placing the selected tile layout on the surface with the device. The method may include using the device for placing cut lines on the tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Delta II, I.P. (Trust)
    Inventors: David W. Swanson, William Robert Swanson
  • Patent number: 8336279
    Abstract: A device for aligning and leveling tiles as they are laid in floors, walls, countertops, or the like. The device has a locking assembly and a bottom plate. The components are combined with a shaft that extends from the bottom plate through the locking assembly so that the locking assembly is movable along the length of the shaft. In use, the device is placed between adjacent tiles so that the locking assembly and bottom plate hold adjacent tiles at a desired height as the setting bed dries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Davinci Italia/USA Group, LLC
    Inventors: Edward A. Kufner, Michele Volponi
  • Patent number: 8205348
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a removable tile spacer for enabling even spacing between a first tile and a second tile that are perpendicular to each other. The second tile has an end opposite the first tile. The removable tile spacer includes a first elongate member interposable between the first tile and the end of the second tile to provide spacing between the first tile and the second tile. The tile spacer includes a body. The first elongate member is connected to and extends away from the body at an angle relative to the body such that the body has at least a portion which is spaced-apart from both the first tile and the second tile when the first elongate member is interposed between the first tile and the end of the second tile. This thereby facilitates removal of the tile spacer when tile spacing is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Zashiki-Warashi Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Davor Baros, David John Higgs
  • Patent number: 8181409
    Abstract: An improved rotatable wedge spacer to be removably positioned in a gap between opposing upper and lower surfaces (e.g., tiles) that are being bonded (e.g., by means of mortar) one above or adjacent the other to a flat surface (e.g., a wall or a floor). The spacer includes a curved (e.g., circular) body having a thin tip at one end and a thick tail at the opposite end. The height of the circular body between an upward sloping top surface thereof and a flat bottom surface increases from the thin tip to the thick tail. A series of flat load-supporting plateaus having predetermined increasing heights are regularly spaced from one another along the top surface so as to lie parallel with the flat bottom surface. With the flat bottom surface of the wedge spacer seated upon the lower tile, the curved body is rotated within the gap until one of the flat load-supporting plateaus along the top surface engages the upper tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Grant B. Jones
  • Patent number: 8127460
    Abstract: A tool suitable for holding a ruling tile for using in making a cutting line on a cutting tile. The tool comprises a tile receiving means and a support means for the tile receiving means. The tile receiving means is adapted to space the ruling tile at a desired distance from a boundary of an area to be tiled. The ruling tile overlies the cutting tile. Optionally a laid tile is provided beneath the cutting tile. A method of marking and cutting a tile using such a tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventor: David Flude
  • Patent number: 8122611
    Abstract: A jig device for accurately measuring an opening when installing shelving, windowsills, molding, and similar construction material is provided. The jig device comprises a first elongated bar and a second elongated bar. First incremental measurements are marked on the first elongated bar with the first incremental markings reading right to left. Second incremental measurements are marked on the second elongated bar with the second incremental markings reading left to right. A first fastening mechanism slidably connects the first elongated bar to the second elongated bar and is tightenable to inhibit movement between the first elongated bar and the second elongated bar. A first angle paddle and a second angle paddle are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Inventor: Dennis J. Kallsen
  • Patent number: 8099926
    Abstract: A device for aligning and leveling tiles as they are laid in floors, walls, countertops, or the like. The device has a locking assembly and a bottom plate. The components are combined with a shaft that extends from the bottom plate through the locking assembly so that the locking assembly is movable along the length of the shaft. In use, the device is placed between adjacent tiles so that the locking assembly and bottom plate hold adjacent tiles at a desired height as the setting bed dries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Davinci Italia/USA Group, LLC
    Inventors: Edward A. Kufner, Michele Volponi
  • Patent number: 8096056
    Abstract: A trim installation square device is provided for facilitating measurement, cutting and installation of trim around a door or window opening. The device includes a base member, and extension member extendably coupled to the base member, and a locking assembly for holding the base member and extension member in place. The base member and the extension member are positioned relative to each other such that a base member first edge is parallel to an extension member first edge and a base member second edge is parallel to an extension member second edge forming two spaced right angles. A ruler is coupled to one of the base member and the extension member. The ruler is positioned for measuring a transverse distance between the base member first edge and the extension member first edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventor: Randale C. Murdock
  • Patent number: 8082714
    Abstract: A rotatable wedge tile spacer to be removably positioned in a gap between adjacent upper and lower tiles that are being bonded one above the other to a vertical surface (i.e., a wall). The tile spacer includes a curved (i.e., circular) body having a thin tip at one end and a thick tail at the opposite end. The height of the circular body increases along a tile-supporting top surface thereof that runs from the thin tip to the thick tail. With the tile spacer seated upon the lower tile, the circular body is rotated continuously around its longitudinal axis until the tile-supporting top surface engages the upper tile. Accordingly, the circular body of the rotatable wedge tile spacer will fill the gap and thereby prevent the upper tile from moving through the gap towards the lower tile during the bonding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventors: Jason W. Burns, Grant B. Jones
  • Patent number: 8079199
    Abstract: A device for aligning and leveling tiles as they are laid in floors, walls, countertops, or the like. The device has a locking assembly and a bottom plate. The components are combined with a shaft that extends from the bottom plate through the locking assembly so that the locking assembly is movable along the length of the shaft. In use, the device is placed between adjacent tiles so that the locking assembly and bottom plate hold adjacent tiles at a desired height as the setting bed dries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Davinci Italia/USA Group, LLC
    Inventors: Edward A Kufner, Michele Volponi
  • Patent number: 8011164
    Abstract: A device for aligning and leveling tiles as they are laid in floors, walls, countertops, or the like. The device has a locking assembly and a bottom plate. The components are combined with a shaft that extends from the bottom plate through the locking assembly so that the locking assembly is movable along the length of the shaft. In use, the device is placed between adjacent tiles so that the locking assembly and bottom plate hold adjacent tiles at a desired height as the setting bed dries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Davinci Italia/USA Group, LLC
    Inventors: Edward A Kufner, Michele Volponi
  • Patent number: 7954300
    Abstract: A device for aligning and leveling tiles as they are laid in floors, walls, countertops, or the like. The device has a locking assembly and a bottom plate. The components are combined with a shaft that extends from the bottom plate through the locking assembly so that the locking assembly is movable along the length of the shaft. In use, the device is placed between adjacent tiles so that the locking assembly and bottom plate hold adjacent tiles at a desired height as the setting bed dries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Davinci Italia/USA Group, LLC
    Inventors: Edward A Kufner, Michele Volponi
  • Patent number: 7946049
    Abstract: A tool for use in spacing deck boards on typically framed deck structures that is in the form of a cylindrical arm with a ½? eye located at one end. The arm is the thickness of a desired gap between spaced decking and the eye attaches to a drills handle assembly by means of sliding the bolt, which attaches the handle assembly to the drill, through the eye of the tool and tightening the handle to the drill, thus securing the tool to the drill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Inventor: Adam Wilton
  • Patent number: 7941987
    Abstract: A tile spacer is made from a pair of parallel planar members joined by a series of connectors forming a series of channels. The tile spacer is positioned between two adjacent tiles and sunk into the adhesive so that excess adhesive enters the channels and is subsequently removed. One or more appropriate cuts can be made to the tile spacer in order to open desired channels which allows the tile spacer to curve or otherwise bend from linear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Inventor: Michael E. Raim
  • Patent number: 7861487
    Abstract: A device for aligning and leveling tiles as they are laid in floors, walls, countertops, or the like. The device has a locking assembly and a bottom plate. The components are combined with a shaft that extends from the bottom plate through the locking assembly so that the locking assembly is movable along the length of the shaft. In use, the device is placed between adjacent tiles so that the locking assembly and bottom plate hold adjacent tiles at a desired height as the setting bed dries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Davinci Italia/USA Group, LLC
    Inventors: Edward A. Kufner, Michele Volponi
  • Patent number: 7818923
    Abstract: A tile spacer that provides multiple grout line and/or adjustment dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventor: David J. Alvarez
  • Patent number: 7698831
    Abstract: A tile spacer for a plurality of tiles arranged on the surface with spaces in between. The tile spacer has a first set of elongate members, each having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal ends are connected together and the distal ends are spaced-apart for setting the spaces between the tiles. The spacer has a body having a portion which is spaced-apart above the tiles when the distal ends of the members are fitted within the spaces between the tiles, thereby facilitating removal of the spacer when tile spacing is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Zashiki-Warashi Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: David John Higgs, Davor Baros
  • Patent number: 7685729
    Abstract: The removable grade pin system includes a base pin and a removable upper pin. The base pin is a rod that is driven into the ground within the concrete form, typically such that the head of the base pin is approximately two inches below the desired level of concrete. The upper pin is a rod with a hollow bore formed in its lower end having a diameter slightly larger than the head of the base pin so that the upper pin telescopes over the base pin. The upper pin has an annular plate or disc extending about its center or medial section to mark the desired level of the concrete. The upper end of the upper pin provides a handle to remove the upper pin when the desired level of concrete has been poured into the form. The position of the circular plate on the upper pin may be adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Inventor: Michael S. Mershon
  • Patent number: 7621100
    Abstract: A device for aligning and leveling tiles as they are laid in floors, walls, countertops, or the like. The device has a top plate with several spacer fins and a bottom plate. The plates are combined with a shaft that extends from the bottom plate through the top plate so that the top plate is movable along the length of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: DaVinci Italia/USA Group, LLC
    Inventors: Edward A. Kufner, Michele Volponi
  • Patent number: 7617609
    Abstract: A tool is provided for calculating the length and number of filler design elements to be used to eliminate an irregular gap in a wall being covered with cast veneer wall panels having a series of repeating design elements. The tool includes a ruler having gap measurement, length of cut and number of filler design element scales. The tool also includes a medial slide carried on the ruler. Two measuring points are also provided. The first is carried on the ruler. The second is carried on the medial slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC
    Inventors: Francis S. Tyler, Joshua M Broehl, James H Lua
  • Publication number: 20090249711
    Abstract: An easy-to-install outdoor wooden flooring, with possibly treated, very high durability materials, suitably robust and safe for passers-by and characterised by low manufacturing costs. An assembly method of the aforesaid flooring is advantageously provided capable of simplify the installation operations, specifically in virtue of the use of appropriately configured assembly templates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventor: Gabriele Galimberti
  • Publication number: 20090235548
    Abstract: A tile spacer for a plurality of tiles arranged on the surface with spaces in between. The tile spacer has a first set of elongate members, each having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal ends are connected together and the distal ends are spaced-apart for setting the spaces between the tiles. The spacer has a body having a portion which is spaced-apart above the tiles when the distal ends of the members are fitted within the spaces between the tiles, thereby facilitating removal of the spacer when tile spacing is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: David John Higgs, Davor Baros
  • Patent number: 7516558
    Abstract: A spacer providing a substantially uniform space between adjacent tiles includes spacer legs extending radially from a common junction. The spacer legs, made from a porous material, are permanently adherable to a tile bonding material utilized to adhere the tiles to an underlying surface, and/or a grout material filling a gap between tiles. A process for making a tile spacer includes providing thinset material to which a liquid latex admix material is added. The materials are distributed evenly to a consistency of a damp fluffy sand-like mixture which is then placed into a mold of a desired shape and packed into the mold to bond the materials while still damp to form the tile spacer. The spacer is extracted from the mold and placed on a flat rigid sheet. The spacer is moist cured and dried at room temperature environment with 40-99% humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Inventors: Keith Frank, Scott Gerling
  • Patent number: 7493704
    Abstract: A tool for scribing tile includes a base member, a bottom member, and one or more bottom member opening. Further, bottom member is couplep to the base member through the one or more bottom member opening by at least one bottom fastener and slidable relative to the base member. The tool further comprises a center member defining at least one center member opening, wherein the center member is coupled to bottom member through the at least one center member opening by at least one center fastener and slidable relative to the bottom member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Inventor: Michael Bailey