Abstract:
A system to aid in the setting of tile work comprising tile spacers located at the corner of a tile to keep a tile evenly spaced from other tiles. The tile spacers each comprise a circular-shaped disk with integrally-molded spacer tabs in a variety of orientations, thus allowing use of the spacer against another wall, in a corner or a similar location. Each tile spacer is designed to remain in place after the tile is set and be covered with grout, thus making it invisible after the installation is complete. Finally, the tile spacer is provided with a threaded center hole designed to accommodate a threaded stem with permanently attached wing nut. The user can then tighten or loosen the bolt to raise or lower the tile spacer and subsequently the adjacent tile to an equal elevation. The threaded stem is simply removed after the tile has set, making for an invisible and effective installation.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in an Official Record of Invention filed on Sep. 21, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a spacer for use in setting tiles and, more specifically, to a spacer for use in setting tiles that has the ability to adjust the height of the tile during setting; further comprising circular-shaped disks having a plurality of “X”, “T” and “I”-shaped spacer tabs with a threaded center hole designed to accommodate a threaded screw with a permanently attached wing nut, thereby enabling a user to raise or lower the spacer and subsequently the adjacent tile to an equal elevation. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is prevalent for ceramic tile installers to utilize a tile spacer in order to obtain a consistent gap distance between the tiles. Conventional tile spacers do not adjust for differences in the elevation of the subfloor below the tile. The height adjustable tile spacer addresses and solves this problem. 
     Installing tile flooring is a challenging task due to the individual pieces requiring precise cuts and the need to achieve a perfect, consistent pattern during the installation. Part of the challenge is the spacing between each tile section which will later allow for grout to be installed. Plastic spacers can be set to aid in this process, but they must be moved individually when the next piece is to be installed. Additionally, the plastic only allows for one dimension to be set at a time, thus multiple spacers must be set for just one (1) piece of tile. This practice will result in the user trying to juggle the tile along with several spacers with less than satisfactory results. Finally, such spacers only adjust for the width of the grout line and do nothing for leveling the height of the tile over an uneven subfloor. In this circumstance, the user must repeatedly use the “apply, tap, remove” process until the tile is just right. While these problems are difficult for the professional tile installer, they prove to be almost insurmountable for the do-it-yourselfer. Accordingly, a need has developed for a device that overcomes the problems associated with establishing consistent spacing and elevation when setting tiles on floors. The tile spacer herein described fulfills this need. 
     Several attempts have been made in the past to invent tile spacers. U.S. Pat. No. D 492,210 issued to Shilo discloses a tile spacer that appears to be a hexagonal shaped spacer with a central opening. Unfortunately, this design patent does not appear to disclose a device similar in appearance to the spacer described herein, nor does it appear to comprise a centrally-threaded screw with an attached wing nut to elevate the tile. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,242 issued to Shilo discloses a dual spacing width tile spacer that is square in configuration and comprises a circular central opening. Unfortunately this patent does not appear to disclose a height adjustable tile spacer that comprises a circular spacer with a plurality of spacer tabs and a centrally-threaded screw with a permanently mounted wing nut. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,049 issued to Claxton discloses an adjustable tile spacing device that appears to be four tile spacers set on an adjustable frame to consistently space the tiles. Unfortunately, this device does not appear to disclose a height adjustable tile spacer with a centrally threaded screw to permit elevation of the tile to adjust for differences in the subflooring beneath the tile. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,858 issued to Muller appears to disclose a spacing tool comprising a pair of intersecting planes. Unfortunately this patent does not appear to disclose a height adjustable tile spacer comprising a circular spacer with an internally-threaded aperture that accepts a centrally-threaded screw to adjust the elevation of the tile. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,799 issued to Kowalski discloses a device and process for aligning exterior faces of tiles of irregular thickness when mounting said tiles. Unfortunately this patent does not appear to disclose a height adjustable tile spacer comprising a circular spacer disk comprising a plurality of spacer tabs with a threaded aperture to accept a centrally-threaded screw with an attached wing nut. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,783 issued to Smith discloses a tile spacer for simultaneously aligning tiles along their width during setting that appears to comprise a spacer with four (4) legs set at ninety degree (90°) angles and a perpendicular handle. Unfortunately this patent does not appear to disclose a height adjustable tile spacer comprising a centrally-threaded screw with attached wing nut that is adjustable through a circular disk to adjust the elevation of a time during setting. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,534 issued to Tayshanjian discloses a circular platform upon which rest on one side a cross-shaped spacer and on the other side a tee-shaped spacer. Unfortunately this patent does not appear to disclose a tile spacer that adjusts the elevation of a tile during setting utilizing a circular spacer disk with a threaded aperture through which a centrally-threaded screw moves nor does it appear that this device is designed to permit the permanent installation of the circular platform. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,130 issued to Krchnak appears to disclose a tile template that comprises a plurality of arms disposed a various angles to maintain equidistant spacing between tiles. Unfortunately this patent does not appear to disclose a tile spacer comprising a circular spacer disk with a plurality of tabs and a centrally threaded screw with attached wing nut that cooperate to adjust the elevation of a tile to correct any unevenness in the sub flooring structure. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,142 issued to Rieck discloses a deck spacing tool that appears to comprise a vertically extending blade with a pair of horizontally extending arms. Unfortunately this patent does not appear to disclose a tile spacer that comprises a circular spacer disk capable of being manipulated in a manner so as to bring a tile into a level configuration during tiling. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,341 issued to Joos discloses a single piece spacer for laying tile comprising a plurality of legs extending from a common juncture. Unfortunately this patent does not appear to disclose a tile spacer with a centrally threaded aperture that accepts a threaded screw with an integral wing nut to adjust a tile during tiling in a vertical manner. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,068 issued to Golkar discloses a spacer with a plurality of configurations that comprise arms that provide for even spacing of tiles during tiling. Unfortunately this patent does not appear to disclose a height adjustable tile spacer comprising a circular spacer disk with a plurality of spacer tabs located thereon and a threaded screw that adjusts the vertical elevation of a tile during tiling. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,735,497 issued to Boettcher discloses a flooring spacer that comprises a head that may be grasped manually by a tongue that inserts into the void. Unfortunately this patent does not appear to disclose a height adjustable tile spacer. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,010,213 in the name of Rodtz discloses a tile spacer. Unfortunately this patent does not appear to disclose a height adjustable tile spacer. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,930,135 in the name of Rodtz discloses a tile setting gauge. Unfortunately this patent does not appear to disclose a height adjustable tile spacer. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,797,495 in the name of Walston discloses a glass building block aligner. Unfortunately this patent does not appear to disclose a height adjustable tile spacer. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,031,684 in the name of Berger discloses a tile spacer. Unfortunately this patent does not appear to disclose a height adjustable tile spacer. 
     U.S. Patent Application Number 2002/0121027 in the name of Kruskamp discloses a device and method for spacing tiles. Unfortunately this patent does not appear to disclose a height adjustable tile spacer. 
     None of the prior art particularly describes a spacer that can be used to evenly space tiles during setting and that adjusts for differences in elevation of the subflooring. Accordingly, there exists a need for a height adjustable tile spacer comprised of a circular disk with spacer tabs located thereon and a centrally threaded screw that operates without the disadvantages as described above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, it has been observed that there is a need for a tile spacer that achieves a consistent spacing between tiles and permits the installer to elevate the tile to provide a leveled finished product during installation. 
     It is an object of the height adjustable tile spacer to provide the user with a consistent equidistant gap between tiles during installation. 
     Another object of the height adjustable tile spacer is to provide the user with the ability to adjust the elevation of the tile during placement so as to achieve a level installation. 
     A further object of the height adjustable tile spacer is to be introduced in a variety of alternate embodiments so as to conform to a variety of tile joint configurations. 
     Still another object of the height adjustable tile spacer is a central circular disk that remains permanently in place in the adhesive grout layer between the tile joints thereby providing an invisible and consistent flooring installation. 
     An aspect of the height adjustable tile spacer comprises a spacer disk with at least one (1) spacer tab, a stem aperture, and a threaded stem with a winged head. The spacer tabs and first stem aperture are molded onto the spacer disk at the time of fabrication. The spacer disk further comprises a first stem aperture located at the center of the spacer disk which is threaded. 
     Another aspect of the height adjustable tile spacer comprises a spacer disk with four (4) spacer tabs each equidistantly oriented at a ninety degree (90°) angle from each adjacent spacer tab. 
     A further aspect of the height adjustable tile spacer comprises a threaded stem with a winged head. The winged head portion of the threaded stem is similar in appearance to a wing nut and is permanently attached during the injection molding process. The winged head portion of the threaded stem permits the user to digitally manipulate the threaded stem. The threaded stem threadably attaches to the spacer disk through the stem aperture and as the threaded stem is turned by the user in a clockwise manner, the lower portion of the threaded stem extends beyond the bottom surface of the spacer disk. 
     Yet another aspect of the height adjustable tile spacer comprises, in an alternate embodiment, a second height adjustable tile spacer comprising a second spacer disk with two (2) spacer tabs. The second spacer disk further comprises two (2) second spacer tabs equidistantly oriented at a one hundred and eighty (180°) degree angle from each other. 
     A further aspect of the height adjustable tile spacer comprises, in an alternate embodiment, a third height adjustable tile spacer comprising a third spacer disk with three (3) spacer tabs. The three (3) spacer tabs are oriented in a “T”-shaped configuration on the upper surface of the third spacer disk. 
     Yet another aspect of the height adjustable tile spacer provides for tile spacer tabs that abut against edges of the tile to provide a horizontal level tile surface, thereby providing a level means for vertically adjusting the tiles. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a first height adjustable tile spacer  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an upwardly looking view of a first height adjustable tile spacer  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a second height adjustable tile spacer  40 , according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of a third height adjustable tile spacer  60 , according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of a plurality of height adjustable tile spacers  20 ,  42  of the type shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3  and a number of square tiles  80  in an aligned position along a baseboard  100 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of a plurality of height adjustable tile spacers  42 ,  62  of the type shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and a number of rectangular tiles  81  in a staggered position along a baseboard  100 , according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 7  is an environmental view of a height adjustable tile spacer  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  first height adjustable tile spacer 
               20  first spacer disk 
               22  first spacer tab 
               24  first stem aperture 
               30  threaded stem 
               32  winged head 
               40  second height adjustable tile spacer 
               42  second spacer disk 
               44  second spacer tab 
               46  second stem aperture 
               60  third height adjustable tile spacer 
               62  third spacer disk 
               64  third spacer tab 
               66  third stem aperture 
               80  square tile 
               81  rectangular tile 
               90  adhesive layer 
               100  baseboard 
               110  subfloor 
               120  spacing gap 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 7 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a system and method for a height-adjustable tile spacer (herein described as the “system”), which provides a means for installing a plurality of floor tiles creating a consistent equidistant gap by use of a spacer tab and an equal elevation by raising and lowering a spacer disk. The system will be introduced with a variety of alternate embodiments comprising a first height adjustable tile spacer  10 , a second height adjustable tile spacer  40 , and a third height adjustable tile spacer  60  envisioned to be used in a variety of tile joint configurations. The system will remain in the adhesive layer between the tile joints when the floor is grouted providing an invisible and consistent installation. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a front perspective view of the system, according to the preferred embodiment of the present system, is disclosed. The first height adjustable tile spacer  10  comprises a spacer disk  20  preferably made of a rigid plastic material fabricated in a common plastic injection molding process or the like envisioned to be approximately three fourths (%) inch diameter and one eighth (¼) inch thick. The first spacer disk  20  will comprise four (4) first spacer tabs  22  each positioned equidistant at a ninety degree (90°) angle from an adjacent first spacer tab  22 . The spacer disk  20  further comprises a first stem aperture  24  located at the center of said spacer disk  22  envisioned having a threaded inner surface. The first spacer tabs  22  and the first stem aperture  24  are preferably molded as part of the spacer disk  20  during the plastic molding process. The tile spacers  10 ,  40 ,  60  also comprises a threaded stem  30  preferably made of a rigid plastic fabricated through a common injection molding process or the like. The threaded stem  30  comprises a winged head  32  envisioned to be a similar to a wing nut which is permanently fastened to said stem  30  during the injection molding process and allows a user to digitally manipulate said threaded stem  30 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an upward looking view of the first height adjustable tile spacer  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present system, is disclosed. The threaded stem  30  is envisioned to threadably attach to the spacer disk  20  therethrough the stem aperture  24 . As the threaded stem  30  is turned clockwise by the winged head  32  a lower portion of said threaded stem  30  will extend beyond the bottom surface of the spacer disk  20 . The threaded stem  30  is of the same width as the spacer tabs  22 ,  44 ,  64  located on the spacer disks  20 ,  42 ,  62 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a front perspective view of the second height adjustable tile spacer  40 , according to an alternate embodiment of the present system, is disclosed. The second height adjustable tile spacer  40  comprises a second spacer disk  42  which comprises two (2) second spacer tabs  44  and a second stem aperture  46  which act in a similar manner to the preferred embodiment of the system. The second spacer tabs  44  are each positioned equidistant at a one hundred eighty degree (180°) angle from an adjacent second spacer tab  44 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a front perspective view of the third height adjustable tile spacer  60 , according to an alternate embodiment of the present system, is disclosed. The third height adjustable tile spacer  60  comprises a third spacer disk  62  which comprises three (3) third spacer tabs  64  and a third stem aperture  66  which act in a similar manner to the preferred embodiment of the system. The third spacer tabs  64  are positioned in a “T”-shape where two (2) tabs  64  are equidistant at a one hundred degree (180°) angle from one another and equidistant at a ninety degree (90°) angle from the third adjacent spacer tab  64 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a plan view of a plurality of height adjustable tile spacers  20 ,  42  of the type shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3  and a number of square tiles  80  in an aligned position along a baseboard  100 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present system, is disclosed.  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  both show a plurality of height adjustable tile spacers  20 ,  42  with the threaded stem  30  removed for purposes of clarity and illustration. The first tile spacers  20  are located at the corner joints of the square tiles  80  and the second tile spacers  42  are located between the square tiles  80  at the baseboard  100 . The spacer tabs  24 ,  44  are envisioned having a predetermined width providing an appropriate spacing gap  120  between adjacent square tiles  80 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a plan view of a plurality of height adjustable tile spacers  42 ,  62  of the type shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and a number of rectangular tiles  80  in a staggered position along a baseboard  100 , according to an alternate embodiment of the present system, is disclosed. The third tile spacers  62  are located at the corner joints of the rectangular tiles  81  and the second tile spacers  42  are located between the rectangular tiles  81  at the baseboard  100 . The spacer tabs  44 ,  64  are envisioned having a predetermined width providing an appropriate spacing gap  120  between adjacent rectangular tiles  81 . The third spacer disk  62  may be positioned slightly away from a wall or a baseboard  100  in order to maintain a clean finished look and to elevate tiles near a wall surface. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , an environmental view of the system, according to the preferred embodiment of the present system, is disclosed. The first spacer disk  20  is located in the adhesive layer  90  on an upper surface of a subfloor  110 . The threaded stem  30  is threadably attached thereto the first spacer disk  20  within the spacing gap  120  between the tiles  80 . 
     It is envisioned that all the embodiments of the present system  10 ,  40 ,  60  may be introduced in a variety of different sizes depending on the type of flooring material used and the desired spacing gap  120 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present system can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present system can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the system, it would be installed as indicated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5 , and  7 . 
     The method of utilizing the system may be achieved by performing the following steps: assembling a plurality of first height adjustable tile spacers  10  by threadably attaching the threaded stem  30  thereto the spacer disk  20  insuring assembly is straight and aligned; mixing the adhesive mortar; troweling the adhesive mortar onto a top surface of the subfloor  110  using a notched tile trowel creating an adhesive layer  90 ; setting a first row of tiles  80  gently onto the adhesive layer  90  but not pressing the tiles  80  in place; inserting the first height adjustable tile spacers  10  on the adhesive layer  90  under the corners of all the tiles  80 ; setting a second row of tiles  80  gently onto the adhesive layer  90  but not pressing the tiles  80  in place; setting the spacing gap  120  width between adjacent tiles  80  by aligning the corners of the tiles  80  atop the first spacer disk  20  separated by the first spacer tabs  22 ; leveling the adjacent tiles  80  by turning the threaded stem  30  in a clockwise manner thus vertically raising the spacer disk  20  off of the subfloor  110  by means of extending the lower portion of the threaded stem  30  therethrough the first stem aperture  24  (see  FIG. 2 ); lowering the spacer disk  20  by turning the threaded stem  30  in a counter-clockwise manner; leveling each tile  80  in relation to any other adjacent tile  80  by means of appropriate directional turning of the threaded stems  30  for every first height adjustable tile spacer  10 ; ensuring all tiles  80  are level with respect to any adjacent tile  80  by means of a surface level; pressing all of the tiles  80  firmly into the adhesive layer  90 ; cleaning any excess adhesive mortar from the top surface of the tiles  80 ; repeating the above steps for each successive row of tiles  80  until the flooring area is completely covered with tiles  80 ; allowing the adhesive mortar to dry for approximately twenty four (24) hours; removing the threaded stems  30  from each first adjustable tile spacer  10  by turning the stem  30  in a counter-clockwise manner thus threadably detaching from the stem aperture  24 ; leaving the spacer disks  20  under the corner of the tiles  80  in the adhesive mortar permanently; grouting tiled  80  area with an appropriate grouting mixture as normal; and, benefiting from the increased and improved convenience, accuracy, and time efficiency of installing tiles  80 , while using the present system. 
     The method of utilizing an alternate embodiment of the present system may be achieved by performing the same steps provided for in the preferred embodiment of the system but used in particular applications depending upon the orientation of the tiles  80  by placing the second height adjustable tile spacers  40  under the corners of the tiles  80  which come in contact with the baseboard  100 . 
     The method of utilizing an alternate embodiment of the present system may be achieved by performing the same steps provided for in the preferred embodiment of the system but used in particular applications depending upon the staggered orientation of the rectangular tiles  81  by placing the third height adjustable tile spacers  60  under the corners of the tiles  81 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.