IP Library Granted Patent US 11,598,104
Granted Patent B2
US 11,598,104 · App. 16/871,421 · Granted Mar 7, 2023

System and method for aligning and leveling tile

Inventor: Michele Volponi (Keokuk, IA)
Assignee: New Standards Manufacturing Co.
E04F13/0892E04F13/0889E04F15/0215E04F21/0092E04F21/1877E04F21/20E04F21/22Y10T29/53796
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,598,104
App. No.
16/871,421
Granted
Mar 7, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tile aligning and leveling system that uses an under tile base re-usable upright connecting tab, which is detachably connected to said under tile base, a re-usable flexible edge slotted cap configured to slip over the connecting tab and latch thereto as the cap is slid further down the connecting tab. The cap has an edge slot so that the connecting tab can be separated from the cap, by merely sliding the cap, so that the connecting tab passes through the slot. A flexible spring-like portion of the cap provides increased force on the tile even if undesired elongation of the connecting tab occurs.

Claims (33)

1. A tile alignment system comprising:

mortar and a first side member, configured to be placed on a first side of a plurality of adjacent structures;

a connecting tab operatively coupled with said first side member and sized with a thickness dimension and a width dimension so as to extend through a joint existing between two of said plurality of adjacent structures;

said connecting tab further operatively coupled with matter configured to facilitate pressure to a second side of said plurality of adjacent structures, where said second side is opposite said first side; said pressure assists in reducing misalignment between said plurality of adjacent structures;

said first side member configured with a void in an upper portion for cooperation with lower portion of said connecting tab;

said upper portion disposed within and movable with respect to said void and is configured to provide a force resisting separation therefrom of said lower portion; and

said upper portion, is configured to separate from said lower portion.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said upper portion when a removal force is applied thereto, is configured to deform and thereby change an orientation with respect to said lower portion so as to reduce said force resisting removal of said mating member.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said first side member is a non-reusable sub-tile base member.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said thickness dimension is less than a shortest distance across said joint and said width dimension is larger than said shortest distance across said joint.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said force resisting removal is reduced more when said removal force is increased.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said removal force is provided by pulling along a longitudinal axis of said connecting tab.

7. A tile alignment system comprising:

intermediate member for transmitting a force between a back side of a plurality of adjacent tiles and a portion of a front side, which is an opposite side from said back side;

mortar and a back side member which is configured to be placed on said back side of said plurality of adjacent tiles; and

said back side member including a portion configured to cooperate with said intermediate member and to reduce forces resisting removal of said intermediate member when forces aligned with a longitudinal axis of said intermediate member are applied.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said portion comprises an upper portion configured to cooperate with a lower portion of said intermediate member.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said intermediate member is coupled to a front side member.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said intermediate member provides a portion of a direct physical connection between said back side and said front side.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein said front side member is configured to slide down the intermediate member until contact with said plurality of adjacent tiles is made.

12. A tile alignment system comprising:

mortar;

a back side member which is configured to be placed, in said mortar, on a back side of a plurality of adjacent slabs;

an intermediate member including a bottom portion; and

said back side member have a portion thereof which is a means, operable and movable with respect to said back side member, for releasing said intermediate member.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said means for releasing said intermediate member comprises a lowest portion operatively coupled with said back side member.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said means for releasing further comprises a mating portion in said back side member.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said means for releasing comprises matter disposed in said back side member which is configured to resist and then permit separation from said lowest portion of said intermediate member.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said intermediate member is a connecting tab and is configured to be pulled out of engagement with said back side member.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein a releasing of said intermediate member is an effect of a force being applied to said back side member.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said effect is a releasing of a force resisting removal of said intermediate member.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the effect is increased as said releasing force is increased.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said releasing force is aligned with a longitudinal axis of said intermediate member.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2024
From: NEW STANDARDS MANUFACTURING, CO.
To: DTM INNOVATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 067268/0798 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2020
From: VOLPONI, MICHELE
To: NEW STANDARDS MANUFACTURING CO.
Reel/Frame 052628/0874 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 15275958 · Sep 26, 2016
Continuation 14186729 · Feb 21, 2014
Division 14030346 · Sep 18, 2013
Division 13855537 · Apr 2, 2013
Division 13707369 · Dec 6, 2012
Division 13296737 · Nov 15, 2011
Related Publication 20200270870A1 · Aug 27, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,503,847