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 push portion 23. The abutting portion 22 is provided with multiple 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 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 push portion 23 of the wedge 2, the push 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 push 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 push 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 push portion extending upward from a second end of the pedestal. The abutting portion is provided with multiple ratchet teeth. The abutting portion is provided with a press section. The press section is located above the ratchet teeth. The push portion has a top end abutting a bottom face of the abutting portion.

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 push (or thrust) portion 43 extending upward from a second end of the pedestal 41. The abutting portion 42 is provided with multiple ratchet teeth 421. The abutting portion 42 is provided with a press section 422. The press section 422 is located above the ratchet teeth 421. The push portion 43 has a top end 431 abutting (or pushing or pressing) a bottom face 423 of the abutting portion 42.

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 push 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 push portion 43, and an acute angle is defined between the pedestal 41 and the push portion 43.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a receiving space 44 is defined between the pedestal 41, the abutting portion 42, and the push 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. At this time, the operator presses the press section 422 of the pressing seat 4 as shown in FIG. 8, so that the bottom face 423 of the abutting portion 42 presses the top end 431 of the push portion 43. Thus, the pressing seat 4 is compressed toward the receiving space 44. Then, the pressing seat 4 is inserted into the through hole 33 of the support base 3, so that the ratchet teeth 421 of the abutting portion 42 meshes with and is locked by the locking portion 34 of the support base 3.

After the force applied on the press section 422 of the pressing seat 4 disappears, the abutting portion 42 of the pressing seat 4 is released. Then, the push portion 43 of the pressing seat 4 is returned by its elastic restoring force as shown in FIG. 9, and pushes the abutting portion 42 of the pressing seat 4 to move toward the through hole 33 of the support base 3, so that the ratchet teeth 421 of the abutting portion 42 is locked on the locking portion 34 of the support base 3 closely and tightly. 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 pushes the pressing seat 4 into the through hole 33 of the support base 3, the push portion 43 of the pressing seat 4 pushes the abutting portion 42 of the pressing seat 4, so that the ratchet teeth 421 of the abutting portion 42 is 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 assemble 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.