TILE LEVELING STRUCTURE

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a leveling spacer and, more particularly, to a tile leveling structure for leveling tiles.

Description of the Related Art

A conventional tile leveling structure in accordance with the prior art shown in FIGS. 1-4 comprises a base 1 and a wedge 2 mounted on the base 1. The base 1 includes a bottom plate 11 and a handle 12 extending upward from the bottom plate 11. The base 1 is provided with a through hole 13. The handle 12 is provided with a locking portion 14. The wedge 2 includes a bottom face 21, an abutting portion 22, and a press portion 23. The abutting portion 22 is provided with multiple first ratchet teeth 221.

In operation, the tile leveling structure is used to level tiles A1 and A2. Before pavement of the tiles A1 and A2, the bottom plate 11 of the base 1 initially presses the bottom face of each of the tiles A1 and A2, and the handle 12 of the base 1 separates the tiles A1 and A2. When the wedge 2 is pushed by the operator, the wedge 2 is moved and inserted into the through hole 13 of the base 1, so that the first ratchet teeth 221 of the abutting portion 22 meshes with the locking portion 14 of the base 1. At this time, the bottom face 21 of the wedge 2 rests on the top face of each of the tiles A1 and A2. When the operator further applies a force on the press portion 23 of the wedge 2, the press portion 23 of the wedge 2 is pushed forward as shown in FIG. 4, and the wedge 2 is forced to press the tiles A1 and A2, so that the bottom plate 11 of the base 1 forces the tiles A1 and A2 to lift slightly, so as to adjust and level the tiles A1 and A2.

However, the position of the wedge 2 relative to the base 1 is entirely determined by and limited to the operator's experience, so that the flatness of the tiles A1 and A2 is not uniform. In addition, the operator has to push the press portion 23 of the wedge 2, to press and force the wedge 2 into the base 1 at the last stage, so that the operator has to exert a larger force to manipulate the press portion 23 of the wedge 2, and the operator's finger is easily hurt during a long-term operation, thereby causing an occupational injury.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a tile leveling structure that enhances the working efficiency, saves the manual labor, and reduces occupational injury to the operator.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a tile leveling structure comprising a support base and a pressing seat mounted on the support base. The support base includes a bottom plate and a handle extending upward from the bottom plate. The bottom plate has a concave shape. The support base is provided with a through hole. The handle is provided with a locking portion arranged in a top of the through hole. The pressing seat includes a pedestal, an abutting portion extending upward from a first end of the pedestal, and a press portion extending upward from a second end of the pedestal. The abutting portion has an upper surface provided with multiple first ratchet teeth and a lower surface provided with multiple second ratchet teeth. The press portion has an end provided with a locking tooth locked on the second ratchet teeth.

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 an exploded perspective view of a conventional tile leveling structure in accordance with the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the conventional tile leveling structure in accordance with the prior art.

FIG. 3 is an operational view of the conventional tile leveling structure as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional tile leveling structure as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a tile leveling structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tile leveling structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an operational view of the tile leveling structure as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an operational cross-sectional view of a pressing seat of the tile leveling structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the tile leveling structure as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a support base of the tile leveling structure in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an operational view of the support base of the tile leveling structure as shown in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 5-9, a tile leveling structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a support base (or clip) 3 and a pressing seat (or wedge) 4 mounted on the support base 3.

The support base 3 includes a bottom plate 31 and a handle 32 extending upward from the bottom plate 31. The bottom plate 31 has a concave shape. The support base 3 is provided with a through hole 33 defined between the bottom plate 31 and the handle 32. The handle 32 is provided with a locking portion 34 arranged in a top of the through hole 33.

The pressing seat 4 includes a pedestal 41, an abutting portion 42 extending upward from a first end of the pedestal 41, and a press portion 43 extending upward from a second end of the pedestal 41. The abutting portion 42 has an upper surface provided with multiple first ratchet teeth 421 and a lower surface provided with multiple second ratchet teeth 422. The first ratchet teeth 421 are arranged on a first end of the abutting portion 42, and the second ratchet teeth 422 are arranged on a second end of the abutting portion 42. The press portion 43 has an end provided with a locking tooth 431 locked on the second ratchet teeth 422.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pressing seat 4 is made of elastic (or resilient or flexible) material. Preferably, the pressing seat 4 is made of plastic material.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the pedestal 41, the abutting portion 42, and the press portion 43 of the pressing seat 4 is a sheet plate.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pedestal 41 is integrally formed with the abutting portion 42, and an acute angle is defined between the pedestal 41 and the abutting portion 42.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pedestal 41 is integrally formed with the press portion 43, and an acute angle is defined between the pedestal 41 and the press portion 43.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a receiving space is defined between the pedestal 41, the abutting portion 42, and the locking tooth 431 of the press portion 43.

In operation, referring to FIGS. 7-9 with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the tile leveling structure is used to level and space tiles B1 and B2. Before pavement of the tiles B1 and B2, the bottom plate 31 of the support base 3 initially presses the bottom face of each of the tiles B1 and B2, and the handle 32 of the support base 3 separates the tiles A1 and A2. At this time, the operator presses or pushes the pressing seat 4 toward the support base 3, so that the pressing seat 4 is inserted into the through hole 33 of the support base 3, and the first ratchet teeth 421 of the abutting portion 42 mesh with and are locked by the locking portion 34 of the support base 3 as shown in FIG. 8.

When the press portion 43 of the pressing seat 4 is pressed, the locking tooth 431 of the press portion 43 is moved toward the second ratchet teeth 422 of the abutting portion 42, so that the abutting portion 42 of the pressing seat 4 is pushed upward until the locking tooth 431 of the press portion 43 meshes with and is locked by the second ratchet teeth 422 of the abutting portion 42 as shown in FIG. 9.

At this time, when the abutting portion 42 of the pressing seat 4 is pushed upward by the locking tooth 431 of the press portion 43, the first ratchet teeth 421 of the abutting portion 42 are pushed and locked on the locking portion 34 of the support base 3 closely and tightly. Thus, the operator only needs to apply a little force to press the press portion 43 of the pressing seat 4 so as to lock the first ratchet teeth 421 of the abutting portion 42 and the locking portion 34 of the support base 3. In such a manner, the bottom plate 31 of the support base 3 presses the bottom face of each of the tiles B1 and B2, and the pedestal 41 of the pressing seat 4 closely presses the top face of each of the tiles B1 and B2, so that the tiles B1 and B2 are leveled by the tile leveling structure exactly and evenly. Thus, the tiles B1 and B2 have a uniform height.

Accordingly, when the operator presses the press portion 43 of the pressing seat 4, the abutting portion 42 of the pressing seat 4 is pushed upward by the locking tooth 431 of the press portion 43, so that the first ratchet teeth 421 of the abutting portion 42 are pushed and locked on the locking portion 34 of the support base 3 closely and tightly. Thus, the operator only needs to apply a less force to lock the pressing seat 4 on the support base 3, thereby increasing the working efficiency, saving the manual labor, and reducing occupational injury to the operator.

Now, referring to FIGS. 10 and 11 with reference to FIG. 5, the bottom plate 31 of the support base 3 is provided with a spacer 35 extending upward. Thus, the support base 3 is used to separate four tiles B1, B2, B3, and B4 by provision of the spacer 35.

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 scope of the invention.