Geometrical instruments – Gauge – Flooring – floor or wall covering – or molding
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-07
2002-07-02
Fulton, Christopher W. (Department: 2859)
Geometrical instruments
Gauge
Flooring, floor or wall covering, or molding
C033S464000, C033S518000, C033S521000, C052S749110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06412185
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices that facilitate the laying of tile and more particularly pertains to a new tile laying gauge and leveling assembly for preparing a recipient surface for the laying of tiles and for properly positioning the tiles on the recipient surface.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of devices that facilitate the laying of tile is known in the prior art. More specifically, devices that facilitate the laying of tile heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,768,793; 5,181,326; 5,701,680; 5,038,490; 2,770,043; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 285,780.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new tile laying gauge and leveling assembly. The inventive device includes a plurality of elongated side members and a leveling assembly that is designed to slide along the side members. The leveling assembly has a substantially planar central panel and extension arms. The extension arms extend outward from opposite sides of the central panel and are designed to rest on the side members when the side members are positioned generally parallel with respect to each other. The central panel has a first longitudinal side that has a straight edge for determining if a plurality of tile has been properly positioned. In addition, the central panel has a second longitudinal side that has a plurality of notches designed for facilitating preparation of a recipient surface and for properly positioning tile.
In these respects, the tile laying gauge and leveling assembly according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of preparing a recipient surface for the laying of tiles and for properly positioning the tiles on the recipient surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of devices that facilitate the laying of tile now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new tile laying gauge and leveling assembly construction wherein the same can be utilized for preparing a recipient surface for the laying of tiles and for properly positioning the tiles on the recipient surface.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new tile laying gauge and leveling assembly apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the devices that facilitate the laying of tile mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new tile laying gauge and leveling assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art devices that facilitate the laying of tile, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a plurality of elongated side members and a leveling assembly. Each of the side members has a first flange and a second flange whereby each side member has a generally L-shaped cross section. The leveling assembly has a substantially planar central panel and extension arms. The extension arms extend outward from opposite sides of the central panel and are designed to rest on the second flanges of the side members when the side members are positioned generally parallel with respect to each other. The central panel has a first longitudinal side that has a straight edge for determining if a plurality of tile has been properly positioned. In addition, the central panel has a second longitudinal side that has a plurality of notches designed for facilitating preparation of a recipient surface and for properly positioning tile.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new tile laying gauge and leveling assembly apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the devices that facilitate the laying of tile mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new tile laying gauge and leveling assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art devices that facilitate the laying of tile, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new tile laying gauge and leveling assembly that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new tile laying gauge and leveling assembly that is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new tile laying gauge and leveling assembly which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such tile laying gauge and leveling assembly economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new tile laying gauge and leveling assembly which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new tile laying gauge and leveling assembly for preparing a recipient surface for the laying of tiles and for properly positioning the tiles on the recipient surface.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new tile laying gauge and leveling assembly that includes a plurality of elongated side members and a leveling assembly. Each of the side members has a first flange and a second flange whereby each side member has a generally L-shaped cross section. Th
Mills Mary
Mills Oscar
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