Device for Leveling and Aligning Tiles and Method for Leveling and Aligning Tiles

Abstract

A device for leveling and aligning tiles and method for leveling and aligning tiles are disclosed. In one embodiment, the leveling device includes a body and two spaced and parallel strip members extending transversely from the body. Each of the spaced and parallel strip members extend to the front and rear of the body. Two opposing lateral open windows are formed in the body. A breakaway section is defined along the body. A wedge device is provided for penetrating one or more of the two opposing lateral open windows and exerting a force on the tiles for leveling them relative to each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tile-leveling device comprising:
 a shaft having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including a body having integrated variable spacing with a thickness selected from a plurality of predetermined values depending on the application so that the integrated variable spacing sets a corresponding predetermined joint distance, thereby eliminating any requirement for non-tile-leveling-device spacing components;   a base orthogonally coupled to the shaft, the base extending to a front of the shaft and to a rear of the shaft; and   a shaft-to-base coupling including a frangible breakaway section, the base and the shaft being integral prior to frangible separation such that, upon breaking, the frangible breakaway section frangibly separates the shaft from the base.   
     
     
         2 . The tile-leveling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a vertical traversing subassembly traversing the upper portion of the shaft, the vertical traversing subassembly configured to exert force against at least one tile by pressing the at least one tile against the base. 
     
     
         3 . The tile-leveling device of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated variable spacing comprises a spacing pad integral with the body, the spacing pad having a thickness selected from the plurality of predetermined values and positioning adjacent tiles a predetermined distance apart. 
     
     
         4 . The tile-leveling device of  claim 1 , wherein the body further includes a projection formed as a single piece with the body, the spacer portion furnishing a combination of vertical leveling and joint spacing within the tile-leveling device and thereby eliminating any need for separate tile spacers. 
     
     
         5 . The tile-leveling device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of predetermined values comprises at least first and second thickness values, each thickness value establishing a different predetermined joint distance to suit a particular installation. 
     
     
         6 . A tile-leveling device comprising:
 a shaft having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including a body incorporating integrated variable spacing whose thickness varies in predetermined increments depending on the application so that the integrated variable spacing sets a corresponding predetermined joint distance, eliminating any requirement for non-tile-leveling-device spacing components;   a base orthogonally coupled to the shaft, the base extending to a front of the shaft and to a rear of the shaft; and   a shaft-to-base coupling including a frangible breakaway section, the base and the shaft being integral prior to frangible separation such that, upon breaking, the frangible breakaway section frangibly separates the shaft from the base.   
     
     
         7 . The tile-leveling device of  claim 6 , further comprising a vertical traversing subassembly traversing the upper portion of the shaft, the vertical traversing subassembly configured to exert force against at least one tile by pressing the at least one tile against the base. 
     
     
         8 . The tile-leveling device of  claim 6 , wherein the integrated variable spacing comprises a spacing pad integral with the body, the spacing pad having a thickness corresponding to one of the predetermined increments and positioning adjacent tiles at the corresponding predetermined joint distance. 
     
     
         9 . The tile-leveling device of  claim 6 , wherein the body further includes a projection formed as a single piece with the body, the spacer portion furnishing a combination of vertical leveling and joint spacing within the tile-leveling device and thereby eliminating any need for separate tile spacers. 
     
     
         10 . The tile-leveling device of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined increments comprise at least first and second increment values, each increment value establishing a different predetermined joint distance to suit a particular installation. 
     
     
         11 . A tile-leveling device comprising:
 a shaft having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including an integrated-variable-spacing body, the integrated-variable spacing body including:
 a body portion, and 
 a spacing portion integral with the body portion, the spacing portion having a selected thickness from a plurality of predetermined values, 
   wherein the selected thickness establishes a corresponding predetermined joint distance that is greater than any thickness necessary to achieve leveling-only functionality, thereby eliminating a need for any non-tile-leveling-device spacing components;   a base orthogonally coupled to the shaft, the base extending to a front of the shaft and to a rear of the shaft; and   a shaft-to-base coupling including a frangible breakaway section, the base and the shaft being integral prior to frangible separation such that, upon breaking, the frangible breakaway section frangibly separates the shaft from the base.   
     
     
         12 . The tile-leveling device of  claim 11 , further comprising a vertical traversing subassembly traversing the upper portion of the shaft, the vertical traversing subassembly configured to exert force against at least one tile by pressing the at least one tile against the base. 
     
     
         13 . The tile-leveling device of  claim 11 , wherein the spacing portion comprises a spacing pad integral with the body portion, the spacing pad having a thickness corresponding to one of the plurality of predetermined values and positioning adjacent tiles at the corresponding predetermined joint distance. 
     
     
         14 . The tile-leveling device of  claim 11 , wherein the spacing portion furnishes a combination of vertical leveling and joint spacing within the tile-leveling device, thereby eliminating any need for separate tile spacers. 
     
     
         15 . The tile-leveling device of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of predetermined values comprises at least first and second thickness values, each thickness value establishing a different predetermined joint distance to suit a particular installation. 
     
     
         16 . A tile-leveling device comprising:
 a shaft having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including a body having integrated variable spacing incorporating a spacing portion whose thickness is selectable from multiple predetermined values, each predetermined value establishing a different joint distance to suit a particular installation, the selected thickness being greater than necessary to achieve a leveling-only function so that the joint distance is set within a single product and no additional spacing elements are required;   a base orthogonally coupled to the shaft, the base extending to a front of the shaft and to a rear of the shaft; and   a shaft-to-base coupling including a frangible breakaway section, the base and the shaft being integral prior to frangible separation such that, upon breaking, the frangible breakaway section frangibly separates the shaft from the base.   
     
     
         17 . The tile-leveling device of  claim 16 , further comprising a vertical traversing subassembly traversing the upper portion of the shaft, the vertical traversing subassembly configured to exert force against at least one tile by pressing the at least one tile against the base. 
     
     
         18 . The tile-leveling device of  claim 16 , wherein the spacing portion comprises a spacing pad integral with the body, the spacing pad having a thickness corresponding to one of the multiple predetermined values and positioning adjacent tiles at the corresponding predetermined joint distance. 
     
     
         19 . The tile-leveling device of  claim 16 , wherein the spacing portion furnishes a combination of vertical leveling and joint spacing within the tile-leveling device, thereby eliminating any need for separate tile spacers. 
     
     
         20 . The tile-leveling device of  claim 16 , wherein the multiple predetermined values comprise at least first and second thickness values, each thickness value establishing a different predetermined joint distance to suit a particular installation.