Patent Publication Number: US-9845604-B2

Title: Device and method for arranging and setting tiles and non-vegetative ground covering on a substrate

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally devices for setting and arranging tile and other non-vegetative floor or ground coverings on a substrate. In particular, a tile and non-vegetative ground covering setting and arranging device having turnable supports is described. 
     Known tile setting devices are not entirely satisfactory for the range of applications in which they are employed. When creating, for example, a pathway or floor, the tiles or stones are laid on a very carefully plotted substrate that is designed to hold several tiles or stones. The substrate typically includes an adhering agent such as sand or glue which has been carefully spread over the substrate to properly receive and retain the tiles or the stones. In many applications, tiles or stones are arranged by simply dropping them in place using a template or other type of guide. Thus, if a tile is accidently dropped or misplaced, removing it will cause damage to the substrate and the user will have to resurface or reapply the adhering agent before she can continue with the tile setting project. This results in added frustration and a waste of time and money for the user. 
     Using conventional devices for setting and arranging tiles, paving stones, or other types of non-vegetative floor or ground coverings, existing setting devices do not adequately provide a means to properly space the tiles to achieve symmetry. In addition, conventional tile setting devices do not adequately provide a way to arrange the tiles so as not to disturb the substrate, which can lead to imperfect and uneven arrangement, which results in increased time, cost, and effort to repair. Finally, conventional setting devices are not equipped to remove and re-set a tile or a stone without damaging the substrate in the event a mistake is made. 
     Thus, there exists a need for a setting device that improves upon and advances the design of known setting devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is directed to a device for arranging tiles, paver stones, and other types of floor or ground coverings on a substrate. The device comprises a platform, at least one housing, a plurality of parallel slidable rods having turnable members, at least one perpendicular slidable rod having a stationing means, and an adequate number of securing means to maintain integrity of the device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first example of a tile setting device. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the tile setting device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a tile setting device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a lengthwise perspective view of a tile setting device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the underside of a tile setting device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the side of a tile setting device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosed tile setting device will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individually described in the following detailed description. 
     Throughout the following detailed description, examples of various tile setting devices are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , a first example of a device for setting and arranging tiles, paver stones, and other non-vegetative floor or ground coverings on a substrate is shown. Setting device  100  functions to enable a user to lift, transport, and arrange without disturbing the substrate, a piece of tile, a paver stone, or other similar non-vegetative floor or ground covering. Setting device  100 , will now be described. The reader will appreciate from the figures and description below that setting device  100  addresses shortcomings of conventional tile and paver stone setting devices. 
     Setting device  100  includes a platform  110 , at least one housing  120 , at least one lower housing,  111 , a plurality of parallel slidable rods  130 , at least one perpendicular slidable rod  140 , a plurality of turnable support means  150 , and at least one stationing means  145 . A setting device embodying the principles of the present invention can have any desired number of housing  120  and slidable rod  130 . However, proper support of a tile of any shape requires a sufficient number to keep it from wobbling or slipping out of the device as it is transported. In accordance with the advantageousness of the invention, and as shown in the figures, setting device  100  illustratively has two housings  120 , one lower housing  111 , four parallel slidable rods  130 , and one perpendicular slidable rod  140 . It is an object of the present invention that platform  110  may support more than two housing(s)  120 , more than one lower housing  111 , more than four parallel slidable rod(s)  130 , and more than one perpendicular slidable rod  140 . Further, also shown in  FIG. 1  is a square tile. It should be understood that tiles of differing shapes, such as for example, round, triangular, hexagonal, or other geometric shapes may be appropriate for use with setting device  100 . It should be understood that the tile is included as an example only. It is an object of the present invention to accommodate tiles, stones, and non-vegetative ground or floor coverings of all shapes, sizes and weights that are appropriate for use within the system. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , platform  110  functions to support housing  120  and lower housing  111 . Housing  120  may be configured to enclose two parallel slidable rods  130  as shown. For illustrative purposes, and by way of example only,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show two housing(s)  120 , each encompassing two parallel slidable rods  130  for a total of four parallel slidable rods  130 . In alternative embodiments (not shown), housing  120  may enclose more than two parallel slidable rods  130  and platform  110  may support more than two housing(s)  120 , according to the user&#39;s needs. Housing  120  further comprises a first stationing means  121 , a second stationing means  122 , and a rod stay  123 . 
     Also shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is lower housing  111 . It should be understood that it is an object of the present invention that platform  110  may support more than one lower housing  111  according to the user&#39;s needs. In the present embodiment, lower housing  111  encloses perpendicular slidable rod  140 . Finally, platform  110  may also comprise a handle  112 . In the present figure, handle  112  is shown to be in a substantially perpendicular position relative to housing  110 , In this manner, handle  112  functions as a means of transport for setting device  100  and is intended to permit the user to carry setting device  100  with a single hand. In alternative embodiments (not shown), the grip portion of handle  112  may be elongated and positioned in a substantially parallel position relative to housing  110  such that the user may transport setting device  100  using two hands. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a perspective side view of setting device  100  is shown. In the present figure, and for illustrative purposes only, housing  120  encloses a first parallel slidable rod  131  and a second parallel slidable rod  132 . First parallel slidable rod  131  and second parallel slidable rod  132  may inserted into housing  120  such that they are substantially side by side. In this manner, first parallel slidable rod  131  may be pulled outward in one direction and second parallel slidable rod  132  may be pulled outward in the opposite direction. Thus, when using setting device  100 , the user may slide first parallel slidable rod  131  outward in one direction to the desired length and tighten first stationing means  121  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) to prevent forward or backward movement of first parallel slidable rod  131 . The user then moves second parallel slidable rod  132  outward in the opposite direction to achieve the desired length and tightens second stationing means  122  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) to prevent forward or backward movement of second parallel rod  132 . In this manner, first parallel rod  131  and second parallel rod  132  are positioned to match the dimensions of a user&#39;s chosen piece of tile. 
     Once first parallel slidable rod  131  and second parallel slidable rod  132  are in the desired positions, the user tightens rod stay  123  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) to prevent sideways movement of first parallel slidable rod  131  and second parallel slidable rod  132  as they are enclosed in housing  120 . The user then repeats the above mentioned steps with each housing  120  located on platform  110 . By way of example in the present figure, second parallel rod  132  is not extended outward completely and the distal end is adjacent to the approximate midpoint of first parallel rod  131  as shown. In alternative embodiments, the distal ends of first parallel rod  131  and second parallel rod  132  are completely enclosed in housing  120 . Finally, the user may slide perpendicular slidable rod rod  140  outward to the desired length and a securing means  146  (identified by number in  FIG. 6 ) to prevent forward or backward movement. 
     In the present embodiment, parallel slidable rod may be substantially block shaped and further comprise an aperture (not shown) located at the distal end of parallel slidable rod to receive parallel slidable rod  130 . Parallel slidable rod further comprises a bracket  151  that is affixed to the distal end of parallel slidable rod  130  as shown. Bracket  151  is affixed lengthwise over distal end of parallel slidable rod  130  and functions to retain a turnable support means  150  as shown. 
     Turnable support means  150  further comprises a grip  154 , a crank  155 , a stem  156 , and a foot  157 . Foot  157  is of a sufficient length to extend substantially underneath a tile and act as a support for the tile. Grip  154  is configured to function as a means for the user to grasp turnable support means  150  and effectuate movement about the center axis within the aperture. Stem  156  is of a sufficient length to accommodate the height of a particular tile. It should be understood that the dimensions of stem  156  and foot  157  are customizable and may change depending on the dimensions of the tile the user wishes to arrange. In this manner, a user may set and arrange different shapes and sizes of tiles or stones in a single project. 
     Once parallel slidable rod(s)  130  are in the appropriate position, the user, via grip  154 , turns turnable support means  150  such that crank  155  effectuates reciprocal circular movement about stem  156  and foot  157  is rotated until it is facing substantially inward as shown. The user then places a tile such that it rests on foot  157  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an alternate view of setting device  100  is shown. As mentioned above, platform  110  further comprises lower housing  111  which encloses perpendicular stationing means  145 . Perpendicular slidable rod  140  further comprises an opening  141  thought which perpendicular stationing means  145  may be inserted. Perpendicular stationing means  145  further comprises knob  146  (shown in further detail in  FIG. 6 ) that functions to permit the user to grasp perpendicular stationing means  145  and effectuate vertical movement. Further, stationing means  145  has a circumference that is greater than the circumference opening  141 . In this manner, knob prevents perpendicular stationing means  145  from slipping through opening  141 . 
     Similarly, after the user has positioned perpendicular slidable rod  140  to the appropriate width of a piece of tile, the user may then grasp knob  146  and raise stationing means  145  through opening  141 . Then, after the user has positioned turnable support means  150  to position foot  157  underneath the tile, stationing means  145  is lowered to rest on an outer edge of the tile to provide further support as the tile is transported. 
     When a user wishes to position the tile, setting device  100  is placed over the desired location and gently rested on the substrate. Using stationing means  145  as a lengthwise guide and turnable support means  150  as a horizontal guide, the user is able to position the tile appropriately in relation to an adjacent surface such as a wall or another tile. When the tile is appropriately positioned, the user grasps grip  154  and turns turnable support means  150  such that the foot  157  turns outward and emerges from underneath the tile. The user repeats this turning for each turnable support means  150  and, via gravity, the tile or stone gently falls into place and the substrate remains intact. To release tile setter, the user grips knob  146  and pulls stationing means  145  upward. 
     In the event that the location of a tile that has already been placed is needed to be changed, the user extends parallel slidable rod  130  out as far as it will go and via grip  154 , raises turnable support means  150  until foot  157  is resting against the underside of platform  110 . The user then turns turnable support means  150  outward so that foot  157  is facing outward from the edge of the tile. The user then positions setting device  100  over the tile and gently lowers setting device  100  such that turnable support members are moved upward by the substrate and the platform is lowered. The user then turns turnable support means  150  inward and such that foot  157  is gently moved underneath the bottom surface of the tile. The tile is then lifted, repositioned, and re-set in the manner described above. In this manner, a tile or stone may be repositioned with minimal damage to the substrate. 
     By way of example,  FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the underside of setting device  100 , where lower housing  111  encloses one perpendicular slidable rod  140  and one stationing means  145  can be seen. Also shown in  FIG. 5  are two housing(s)  120  and four parallel slidable rods  130  that are positioned such that the distal end of first parallel slidable rod  131  is adjacent to approximately middle position of second parallel slidable rod  132 . Finally,  FIG. 6  shows a side view of setting device whereby perpendicular slidable rod  140  is partially extended and stationing means  145  and turnable support means  150  are completely extended downward. 
     It should be understood that the present disclosure uses the term ‘tile’ to broadly encompass any type of floor or non-vegetative ground covering that is intended to be arranged on a substrate, including, but not limited to, ceramic and travertine tiles, flagstones, paver stones, marble, slate, wood and faux wood, granite, concrete, and any other similar material that is used for such purposes. It should further be understood that the present invention may be made of any sturdy material suitable for its stated purposes including, but not limited to, metal and metal alloys, wood, plastics, and other synthetic materials, now known or later discovered. 
     The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. 
     Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.