Leveling spacer system for panel members

A leveling spacer system includes a multiple plates, multiple spacers and multiple knobs. The spacers are threadedly connected to the knobs to clamp the panel members, and the plates are used to connect the spacers and the knobs together with so as to clamp more panel members. The plates and the knobs are located on the top of the panel members, and the spacers are located at the underside of the panel members. When the panel members are leveled, the knobs are removed, and the necks on the spacers are broken to finish the leveling of the panel members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the Invention

The present invention relates to a spacer system, and more particularly, to a leveling spacer system for adjusting the leveling of the panel members.

2. Descriptions of Related Art

The conventional spacer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,635,815 and comprises a spacer and a knob, wherein the spacer has a base with multiple protrusions extending therefrom. A first threaded portion extends from the base and a cross connection portion is connected to the stem. Multiple breakable portions are located between the connection portion and the protrusions. The knob has a second threaded portion which is connected to the first threaded portion. The knob has a flat portion at the underside thereof so as to press on the tiles. The knob has a space defined therein. However, the knob and the spacer can only adjust two or four panel members at one time, in other words, when there are many panel members to be adjusted, it takes time. Besides, the gaps between the panel members can only be adjusted within a limited range. The spacer involves a complicated shape so that the molding expenses are high.

Another conventional spacer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,125 and comprises a pressure member, a clip, a wing nut and a bolt, wherein the pressure member has an elongate notch. The clip is located beneath the tiles and the clip has a fixed end which has a tapered resilient flange which contacts the tiles. The clip has a U-shaped spacing loop which is located corresponding to the notch. The spacing loop has an aperture which is located corresponding to the wing nut. The bolt is threadedly connected to the wing nut, and the bolt is securely connected to the aperture. However, again, the spacer can only adjust two or four panel members at one time, in other words, when there are many panel members to be adjusted, it takes time. Besides, the pressure member, the clip, the wing nut and the bolt are individual parts so that when operating these parts, it takes time.

The present invention intends to provide a leveling spacer to eliminate the shortcomings mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a leveling spacer system and comprises a plurality of spacers and each spacer has a base21which is a circular base with a flat underside. The base contacts the undersides of panel members. Each base has a rectangular neck extending therefrom. Each neck has a thickness so as to define a gap between panel members. A groove is defined transversely in each of the two opposite faces of each neck and the grooves is located in alignment with the top of the panel members. Each neck has a first threaded potion connected to the top thereof.

A plurality of rectangular plates each are located on the panel members. The longitudinal length of each plate is longer than two times of the side of each panel member. Each plate has at least two notches. Each notch has one of the necks extends therethrough. The width of each notch is larger than or equal to the width of the neck. The distance between two adjacent notches is equal to a combination width of the width of the panel member and the width of the gap.

A plurality of knobs are respectively connected to the spacers. Each knob has a pressing portion which has a flat underside. A tubular portion extends from the top of the pressing portion. The tubular portion has a second threaded portion defined therein. The first threaded portion is threadedly connected to the second threaded portion to press the pressing portion onto the plate which presses on the panel members. Each tubular portion has two wings extending therefrom. Each of the pressing portions has a space defined therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 6, the leveling spacer system for leveling panel members10(such as laying wall tiles, paving tiles or the like) of the present invention comprises a plurality of spacers20, a plurality of rectangular plates30and a plurality of knobs40. The panel members10each have four sides11, and there is a gap12defied between two adjacent panel members10.

Each spacer20has a base21which is a circular base with a flat underside. The base21contacts the undersides of the panel members10. Each base21has a rectangular neck22extending therefrom, and each neck22has a thickness23so as to define the gap12between panel members10. A groove25is defined transversely in each of two opposite faces220of each neck22and the grooves25are located in alignment with the top of the panel members10. The shortest distance from the inner end of the groove25to the base21is equal to the thickness of the panel member10. Each neck22has a first threaded potion26connected to the top thereof. Each of the first threaded portions26has two flat surfaces27defined in two opposite sides thereof. The two flat surfaces27are parallel to the faces220of each of the necks22. The longitudinal length300of each plate30is longer than 2 to 2.5 times of the length of the side11of each of the panel members10.

Each of the plates30is located on the panel members10and has multiple notches31, each notch31has one of the necks22extending therethrough. The width32of each notch31is larger than or equal to the width24of the neck22. Each notch31is located corresponding to the gap12between the panel members10. The distance between two adjacent notches31is equal to a combination width of the width of the panel member10and the width of the gap12. There are three notches31extending transversely from one long side301of the plate30, and two notches31extend longitudinally one short side302of the plate30. One of the three notches31that extend transversely is located at the center of the plate30. The other two notches31that extend transversely are located symmetrically to the notch31that extend transversely and is located at the center of the plate30. The distance from the inner end311of one of the two notches31that extend longitudinally to the center of the plate30is longer than a combination distance of the side11of the panel member10and the width of the gap12. The axis of the each of the notches31extending transversely is perpendicular to the axis of each of the two notches31extending longitudinally. The distance35between the two transversely extending notches31that are located next to each other is equal to the combination distance of the side11and the width of the gap12. Each notch31has a tapered corner36at each of two sides of the opening310thereof, such that the opening310is a divergent opening.

The number of the knobs40is the same as that of the spacers20. The knobs40are located on the plate30and are respectively connected to the spacers20. Each knob40has a pressing portion41which has a flat underside. A tubular portion42extends from the top of the pressing portion41. The tubular portion42has a second threaded portion43defined therein. The first threaded portion26is threadedly connected to the second threaded portion43to press the pressing portion41onto the plate30which presses on the panel members10. Each tubular portion42has two wings44extending therefrom so that the users can rotate the knob40by rotating the two wings44. Each of the pressing portions41has a space45defined therein.

The panel members10are arranged as a matrix arrangement, the bases21are located at the underside of the panel members10, the necks22extend through the gaps12between the panel members10. The plates30are put on the top of the panel members10and the notches31are located corresponding to the gaps12. The necks22extend through the notches31. The knobs40are located on the panels30and threadedly connected to the spaces20by the connection of the first and second threaded portions26,43.

In one embodiment, as shown inFIG. 6, eight panel members10are connected by multiple plates30and each notch31of the plates30is located corresponding to one gap12of two adjacent panel members10. The knobs40are threadedly connected to the spacers20. The eight panel members10are adjusted to be level by the spacers20, the plates30and the knobs40. When the adjustment of the panel members10is finished, the grooves25are located in alignment with the panel members10. The users than remove the knobs40from the spacers20, and the plates30are removed. The necks22are then broken from the grooves25, and the panel members10are all in alignment with each other.

As shown inFIG. 7, the panel members10are adjusted by using three transversely arranged plates30and four longitudinally arranged plates30. Each plate30is connected to eight panel members10.

As shown inFIG. 8, the panel members10are adjusted by using four longitudinally arranged plates30. Each plate30is cooperated with three spacers20and three knobs40to connect eight panel members10.

As shown inFIG. 9, the panel members10are adjusted by using four longitudinally arranged plates30. Each plate30is cooperated with one spacer20and one knob40.

As shown inFIG. 10, only spacers20and one knobs40are used to adjust the panel members10.

As shown inFIG. 11, the plate30has one notch31at the long side301, and each of the two short sides302has one notch31. The distance from the inner end311of the notch31of the short side301to the center of the plate30is shorter than the side11of the panel member10.

FIGS. 12 and 13show that there are two notches31defined in the long side301of the plate30, and the plate30is connected to six panel members10.

FIGS. 14 and 15show that the plate30is a cross-shaped plate with four distal ends303,304. Each of the four distal ends303,304has a notch31extending longitudinally. One of the notches31in the distal end303is extended beyond the center of the plate30. The length of the notch31that extends beyond the center is longer than the combination length of one side11of the panel member10and the width of the gap12.

The length300is longer than the sum of the side11and the width of the gap12, so that the plate30can be used to adjust more panel members10. The number of the spacers20, the plates30and the knobs40are flexibly adjusted according to the practical need. The number of the notches31and the shape of the plates30can be varied. The knob40has a pressing portion41, the tubular portion42, the wings44and the space45, so that the material for the knob40can be saved. The plates30can be cooperated with limited number of the spacers20to adjust multiple panel members10so as to reduce the consumption of the spacers20. When all the panel members10are adjusted, the users than remove the knobs40from the spacers20, and the plates30are removed. The necks22are then broken from the grooves25. The steps are easy and convenient.