Tile leveling tensioner

Abstract

For leveling tile, a tensioner includes a leveling surface, a tapered surface, a leveling platform, and a bubble level. The leveling surface is disposed on proximal surfaces of first and/or second tiles. The tapered surface tapers from a front edge disposed opposite the leveling surface to a level platform, wherein there is a first separation distance between the tapered surface at the front edge and the leveling surface. The leveling platform is separated by a second separation distance from the leveling surface, wherein the leveling platform is parallel to the leveling surface. The bubble level is embedded in the leveling platform, wherein the bubble level indicates whether the leveling platform and the leveling surface is level.

1 . A tensioner comprising:
 a leveling surface disposed on proximal surfaces of first and/or second tiles;   a tapered surface that tapers from a front edge disposed opposite the leveling surface to a level platform, wherein there is a first separation distance between the tapered surface at the front edge and the leveling surface;   the leveling platform separated by a second separation distance from the leveling surface, wherein the leveling platform is parallel to the leveling surface; and   a bubble level embedded in the leveling platform, wherein the bubble level indicates whether the leveling platform and the leveling surface is level.   
     
     
         2 . The tensioner of  claim 1 , wherein the tensioner is forced through a tension gap until the tapered surface contacts a cross piece, applying a leveling force to the first and second tiles from the leveling surface of the tensioner and the leveling ridges. 
     
     
         3 . The tensioner of  claim 1 , the tensioner further comprising a heel. 
     
     
         4 . A tile leveling device comprising:
 a tower comprising a cross piece and two struts that extend in a distal direction along a first axis from the cross piece;   a device base connected to the two struts at a base intersection and extending along a traverse axis from the two struts, the device base comprising two base triangles each with opposing inner triangle sides along a cross axis, outer triangle vertices along the cross axis, the two base triangles connected by a base bar along the cross axis, wherein each strut comprises a notch along a break line at an outer intersection; and   a leveling stage disposed on a proximal surface of the device base, wherein the cross piece, the two struts, and the leveling stage forms a tension gap.   
     
     
         5 . The tile leveling device of  claim 4 , wherein the break line is disposed an offset distance in the distal direction along the first axis from the leveling stage. 
     
     
         6 . The tile leveling device of  claim 4 , wherein each strut further comprises a break area positioned with a break area distal edge along the break line and the break area is a rectangle and extends in the range of 3-20 millimeters in a proximal direction. 
     
     
         7 . The tile leveling device of  claim 6 , wherein the base triangles comprise flattened outer vertices. 
     
     
         8 . The tile leveling device of  claim 6 , wherein the flattened outer vertices and strut outer edges extend outward an outer distance along the cross axis. 
     
     
         9 . The tile leveling device of  claim 4 , further comprising a break ridge that extends in the proximal direction from the device base, wherein the break line is along a proximal side of the break ridge. 
     
     
         10 . The tile leveling device of  claim 4 , wherein the base bar has a width in the range of 5 to 25 mm along a traverse axis.