Tile alignment and leveling device and method for using the same

Abstract

A device for aligning and leveling tiles as they are laid in floors, walls, countertops, or the like. The device has a top plate with several spacer fins and a bottom plate. The plates are combined with a shaft that extends from the bottom plate through the top plate so that the top plate is movable along the length of the shaft. In use, the device is placed between adjacent tiles so that the top and bottom places hold adjacent tiles at a desired height as the setting bed dries.

1 . A device for laying and leveling tiles, said device comprising: 
 a shaft having an upper portion and a lower portion;    a bottom plate combined with the shaft lower portion;    a top plate having an opening which is adapted to receive the shaft, said top plate having an upper side and a lower side; and    a locking assembly having an opening adapted to receive the shaft.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the locking assembly is movable in a first direction along the shaft by not in a second direction along the shaft.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  further comprising a tongue release combined with the locking assembly and adapted to allow the locking assembly to move in both the first and second directions when actuated.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the shaft further comprises a separation point that is structurally weaker than the remainder of the shaft to allow the shaft to be separated from the bottom plate.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the bottom plate comprises a plurality of openings.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the bottom plate comprises two horizontal portions combined with a vertical portion to allow the device to be used between tiles of different thicknesses.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the lower side of the top plate further comprises two spacer fins adapted for insertion between adjacent tiles.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the lower side of the top plate further comprises four spacer fins adapted for insertion between adjacent tiles.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the shaft is threaded.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the bottom plate comprises a threaded opening adapted to receive the threaded shaft.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the locking assembly is a nut, said nut adapted for tightening against the top plate as the top plate is moved in the first direction.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the shaft upper portion is thicker than the shaft lower portion.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the shaft is round.  
     
     
         14 . A device for laying and leveling tiles, said device comprising: 
 a shaft having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a plurality of surface features;    a bottom plate combined with the shaft lower portion;    a top plate having an opening which is adapted to receive the shaft, said top plate having an upper side and a lower side; and    a locking assembly having an opening adapted to receive the shaft, wherein the locking assembly has at least one locking tongue which is adapted to interfere with the surface features on the shaft so that the locking assembly is movable in a first direction along the shaft but not in a second direction along the shaft.    
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the locking tongue is angled relative to the shaft.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the bottom plate, top plate, and locking assembly are combined with the shaft so that the top plate is between the bottom plate and the locking assembly.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the locking assembly further comprises at least one tongue release adapted to reduce the interference between the locking tongue and the surface features so that when the tongue release is actuated the locking assembly is able to move in both the first direction and the second direction.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the surface features are horizontal.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the surface features are vertical.  
     
     
         20 . A method for laying and leveling adjacent tiles using a device having a shaft with a bottom plate secured thereto and a top plate having an upper side and a lower side, said top plate being threaded onto and movable along the shaft, said method comprising: 
 applying a setting bed to a substrate material;    placing the bottom plate in the setting bed;    placing at least two tiles over the bottom plate so that the shaft extends upward between the tiles;    moving the top plate downward along the shaft until it is in contact with the tiles;    leveling the tiles using the device;    allowing the setting bed to dry; and    removing the top plate and the shaft from the bottom plate.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the lower side of the top plate further comprises spacer fins which are placed between the adjacent tiles.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the step of removing the bottom plate from the shaft by breaking the shaft near the bottom plate.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the shaft is threaded and the bottom plate comprises a threaded opening adapted to receive the threaded shaft; and wherein the shaft is removed from the bottom plate by unscrewing the shaft from the bottom plate.