EP1678395B1 - Device for spreading adhesive - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1), for spreading adhesive for floor coverings, comprising a quadrilateral housing (2), open on at least the lower face thereof, said housing (2) being provided with a handle (4), arranged on a fourth vertical wall and a toothed lower edge (5), arranged on a first vertical wall, opposite that provided with said handle (4).

Description

The present invention relates to a glue distribution device for flooring, comprising a quadrangular housing at least open on its lower face, said housing comprising at least a first, a second and a third vertical walls, said second and third walls. vertical members being opposed to each other and each of said vertical walls comprising a lower edge and an upper edge, said housing comprising at least one handle and at least said first vertical wall comprising teeth on the lower edge, said vertical walls having an adjustable length intended to be adapted to a dimension of a tile (see US 6308370 ).

A glue distribution device is for example known from the utility model German G 03 09 329.2 which discloses a box with a handle for pulling the box, which box has a fourth wall provided with teeth for distributing strips of glue on the floor and grooving. It is well known that the skilled person when he wants to distribute glue uses a toothed spatula which is also called a glue comb to groove the adhesive layer and allow better adhesion of the flooring to apply. This device comprises one-piece box modules, interchangeable to attach to the handle with a width in the range of 30 to 95 cm.

Unfortunately, such a device is bulky to use and transport, in fact, it requires the skilled person, whenever he wants to place another tile size to change the box module and then empty it, clean it up and replace it with another one. It is well known that distributing adhesive strips of a width of 90 cm to have for example tiles of 10 cm is absolutely not practical and leads to a poor quality of work since the skilled person must pass to above 80 cm glue to place the first, it lacks precision, freedom of movement. In addition, the few modules provided do not predict the distribution of adhesive strips of any desired width. Indeed, it is only possible to distribute on the floor glue strips of a width equal to the width of the various existing modules. The skilled person, when traveling on the site must plan to bring all the boxes, which can be a considerable load and especially if the tiles to be placed for example a mosaic tile involving tiles of various sizes. In addition, the floors to be coated are not necessarily large surfaces and it is often embarrassing to have to interchange the box when one is in the middle of a surface in the building of which part is covered with freshly laid coating, batteries tools, coating stock to be laid, a pre-milled surface, etc.

In addition, in this type of device if a band of glue is not uniform and / or poorly glued, it will be necessary for the skilled person to scrape all the glue already disposed by hand, replace it in the box and start over again. gluing.

The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages by allowing the user to work more precisely, faster, easier while requiring less work space and performing a distribution of adhesive strips whose width is adjustable very simply without involving dismantling, emptying, cleaning, transporting and handling excessively heavy and bulky objects.

For this purpose, the present invention provides a device as mentioned at the beginning, characterized in that said at least one handle connects the upper edges of the second and third vertical walls and in that said handle is adjustable in length.

Indeed, the device according to the invention allows to distribute adhesive strips of variable width. The user can for example place a tile inside the latter and use it to adjust the width of the adhesive strip by tightening or loosening the vertical walls until they come into contact with the tiles. sides of the tiles. Moreover, if the person skilled in the art must change tile size for the pattern to be placed, it is sufficient to tighten or loosen the vertical walls again, this adjustment of the width of the device (length of the first vertical wall) requires neither to empty the glue contained in the latter, nor to handle heavy and bulky boxes, nor to handle a handle equally bulky. It is sufficient just to move the side walls closer to one another or to slide them apart. Thus, the user can deposit a large amount of glue inside the housing without thinking that it will have to empty everything during glue distribution. In addition, the presence of three walls only allows ease of use. Indeed, if the skilled person performs a non-uniform gluing due to any disturbance in his work, instead of having to scrape all the glue already deposited with a trowel and put everything back in the box , it is enough for him to lift the device according to the invention leaving all his glue where it is, to take it and to replace it at the place of the non-uniformity of the gluing, without scraping or removing the glue already placed. Then he pulls the device according to the invention and until it arrives at the place where he left his glue and continues his gluing. In a way, it just starts the grooving since the surplus glue is no problem thanks to the lack of wall at the front.

In a particular embodiment, the device according to the invention comprises a fourth vertical wall.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous in the case of particularly liquid glue more difficult to confine in a device with three walls.

Advantageously, at least one of said vertical walls comprises teeth on the upper edge.

The presence of an upper or lower edge provided with teeth makes it possible to obtain a more flexible device where the walls can be turned over, which can, for example, have a different tooth size at the top and at the bottom to obtain, for example, grooves different that may be required for one type of coating or another.

In a very advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a U-shaped part comprising an upper opening and a lower bearing surface, said U-shaped part being provided to be arranged on the lower edge of said second part. and third vertical wall of said housing.

In a variant according to the invention, the second and third vertical walls have at least at the lower edge, a protuberance extending downwardly folded upwards. This protuberance has a lower bearing surface and is provided to allow easier sliding of said housing on said floor during said glue distribution.

These bearing surfaces at the lower edge of the second and third vertical wall act as pads because like wood, all steel, stainless steel and the like has a meaning. This direction makes it possible to define a smoother surface than another which will make it possible, during the traction of the device according to the invention, for the latter to slide on the floor in order to relieve the person skilled in the art.

If desired, the invention further provides that this bearing surface may be present on both the upper and lower edges.

In addition, these bearing surfaces prevent wear of the teeth since they do not rub against the ground. In the case of a U-shaped piece, the latter is easily replaceable when worn as the bottom edge is simply stuck in it.

Advantageously, the lower bearing surfaces of the second and third walls are located lower than said lower edges of the first wall and or the fourth wall, when the device is mounted.

Indeed, when using the device, if the edges of the second and third vertical walls are in contact with the ground, the weight of the adhesive distribution device according to the invention is mainly distributed over the aforementioned folds to reduce the friction walls that do not have this protuberance. In addition, this device allows a pre-gluing which is also called the application of pass of a thickness which will be perfectly equal to the difference in height between a lower part of the teeth of the fourth and / or the first wall vertical and the folds of the second and third vertical walls.

Advantageously, the teeth of the lower or upper edge are teeth which are, for example, either located on at least one edge of an interchangeable plate, which is intended to be fixed at the lower or upper edge, or both, of at least one of said vertical walls, either secured to said edge of at least one of said vertical walls

The interchangeable pads may have adjustable lengths for better adaptation to the vertical walls of adjustable length.

In addition, it should be considered that the teeth advantageously have a height and / or a width and / or a spacing different from each other.

In a particularly simple embodiment of the invention, the fourth vertical wall comprises the handle on an outer face.

In a particularly flexible and advantageous embodiment, two vertical walls comprise an identical or different handle.

This makes it possible to quickly interchange the first and / or the fourth vertical wall and the second and third vertical wall without disassembling the device since it is then sufficient to turn it a quarter turn relative to the direction of traction of the device according to the invention.

Preferably, the handle is on the vertical wall at a position such that when the wall is turned over, the device according to the invention can still be towed properly.

Advantageously, wherein said handle is adjustable in length.

In one embodiment, the handle of the flooring glue distribution device connects the upper edges of the second and third vertical walls.

Putting the handle at this location has provided a device of greater rigidity, this handle indeed acts as a reinforcement bar, it is preferably adjustable, namely stretchable or resealable at the same time as the vertical walls. The arrangement of the handle at this point also makes it possible to prevent the lifting of the front of the device according to the invention.

Advantageously, a second handle, adjustable in length connects the upper edges of the second and third vertical walls. This enhances the benefits mentioned just above and allows more flexibility when pulling. According to the needs, the user will be able to use the first located towards the back or the second located for example towards the front.

The device according to the invention further comprises a bar whose one end has a shape designed to be associated with the handle of the housing, in an articulated and removable manner. The bar serves as a handle device allowing the skilled person to not always work on his knees. Advantageously, the bar is telescopic.

More specifically, the teeth have a height (h) and a width (I) in mm (hx1) selected from the following: 6 x 6, 8 x 8, 8 x 10, 10 x 12, 12 x 14 and a spacing of a distance (in mm) selected from the following: 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14; or a diameter of 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 mm and a spacing of a distance (in mm) selected from the following: 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14.

The shape of the teeth is advantageously chosen from the following forms: a half-moon, a rectangle, a half-ellipse and the like.

Typically, the length of the vertical walls is in the range of 30 to 80 cm, and preferably 40 to 72 cm

In a particular embodiment, the device comprises an occlusion plate designed to be affixed to the internal face of at least one vertical wall provided with teeth, the occultation plate being provided to conceal at least one tooth. It is sometimes necessary to have the teeth wider than what has been provided according to the invention, since it is possible by means of this plate, for example to hide one tooth out of two, to hide all the teeth if we want a straight edge and any other possibility of the same range.

Advantageously, a plate is provided to be affixed to the inner face of at least one vertical wall provided with teeth, the plate being designed to slide vertically so as to vary the height of the teeth. It is sometimes necessary to affix a layer of glue 2 cm thick of which only the first centimeter must be grooved. With the device according to the invention, this is possible, since the fourth and second vertical walls can go lower than the second and third vertical walls, it is therefore sufficient to impose a difference in height and place the plate to reduce the depth of the teeth at 1 cm.

According to the invention, a counterweight is provided to be arranged at the level of the first vertical wall, preferably on the upper edge of the first vertical wall. In the case of a very large user or a heavy glue and very thick, it may be advantageous to have a weight to be affixed to said first wall to prevent the unexpected lifting. The weight is arranged astride the wall by appropriate fastening means.

Particularly, the device according to the invention consists of a material chosen from the group consisting of stainless steel, galvanized steel, rigid plastic material, ceramic and a mixture thereof provided that these materials are sufficiently heavy to prevent that the device according to the invention is lifted during traction.

Other embodiments of the device according to the invention are indicated in the appended claims.

Other details and features of the invention will become apparent from the description given below, without limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates a glue distribution device for floor coverings according to the present invention and its handling by a user.

Figure 2 is an aerial view of a device according to the invention showing the adhesive layer deposited by the traction of said device.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a simple embodiment of the device according to the invention.

Figure 4a is a front view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention comprising a plate for adjusting the height of the teeth.

Figure 4b is a front view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention wherein the teeth are placed on an interchangeable plate adjustable in height.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention illustrating the bearing surfaces of the vertical walls.

Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of a bar provided for pulling the device according to the invention.

FIGS. 7a to 7d are front views of an embodiment of the toothed edge and a plate designed to obscure or not at least one tooth of the lower edge of the housing of the device of the invention.

Figure 8 is a front view of an embodiment, in which the housing has an adjustable width.

Figure 9 is a side view of an embodiment of the device which has rollers.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the device according to the most preferred invention.

Figure 11 is also a perspective view of the embodiment of the device according to the invention the most preferential in which we can see the counterweight.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the adhesive distribution device 1 of the invention comprises a housing 2 which, in a preferred embodiment, is rectangular and open on its lower face and on its upper face. Its dimensions are variable according to the dimensions of the rooms in which a floor covering must be glued. The width of the housing 2 is generally between 30 and 80 cm and preferably between 40 and 72 cm.

The user fills the casing 2 with glue (in general, the quantity of glue poured into the casing is about 25 kg), then he arranges the bar 3 on the handle 4 of the casing 2, as illustrated on 2. The bar 3 is provided with a handle 7 to be held in the hand by the user and an end 8 opposite the handle 7 whose shape allows a removable interlocking on the handle 4 of the housing 2. Of moreover, the bar 3 can be inclined at a variable angle, and this bar 3 is preferably telescopic to be adaptable to the size of the user.

FIG. 3 illustrates a glue distribution device 1 whose housing 2 comprises a first 2b and a fourth vertical wall 2a, and a second 2c and a third vertical wall 2d. In this simple embodiment, the first vertical wall 2b has a toothed lower edge 5 and the fourth vertical wall 2a has a handle 4 on its outer face.

Those skilled in the art will understand that all the vertical walls 2a, 2b or 2c, 2d may comprise an upper and / or lower edge provided with teeth 5.

As can be seen in FIG. 4a, the teeth 5 are either integral with the lower edge of a vertical wall 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d of the casing 2, or are arranged on a plate 13 (see FIG. 4b). affixing, with adjustable fastening means, such as for example butterfly screws 11, or by a clamping system, against the vertical wall 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d of the housing 2 so that the teeth 5 disposed on the plate 13 are flush with the ground with a height adapted to the thickness of glue 6 that the user wants to spread on the ground.

In addition, the teeth may have different dimensions chosen from the following: 6 mm × 6 mm, 8 mm × 8 mm, 8 mm × 10 mm, 10 mm × 12 mm, 12 mm × 14 mm in the case of teeth quadrangular. They have a diameter of 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 in the case of semicircular teeth, half ellipses, etc ... They can also be spaced apart from each other by a plate or one edge to another.

The height of the teeth can be adjusted either (Figure 4a) by means of a plate 14 which is disposed inside the housing 2 against the vertical toothed wall, said plate being fixed with eyelets so as to be able to slide from top to bottom. bottom and thus vary the height of the teeth 5, or (Figure 4b) up the plate 13 which includes the teeth 5, therefore, the height of the teeth 5 will be adjusted by the vertical wall on which the plate 13 is fixed. It should of course be understood that the plate 14 can also be disposed on the inner face of the plate 13 to adjust the height of the teeth 5.

Another embodiment of the adhesive distribution device of the invention provides that each housing 2 has fixed teeth dimensions and the user therefore chooses the housing 2 according to these.

As mentioned above, a further embodiment provides that the housing 2 is provided with teeth 5 on the lower edge and on the upper edge of the vertical wall 2b opposite the vertical wall 2a provided with a handle 4.

Preferably, the teeth of the lower edge have dimensions different from those of the teeth of the upper edge. Thus, the user only has to return the housing 2 when he wants to use one of the two types of teeth.

FIG. 5 illustrates a particularly preferred embodiment, particularly for applying a pass.

The vertical side walls 2c, 2d have a lower edge 15 comprising a protuberance 16 extending downwards folded upwards provided to allow easier sliding of said housing on said floor during said glue distribution. This fold 16 at the bottom 15 of the vertical wall 2c, 2d plays the role of a pad because like wood, all steel, stainless steel and the like has a meaning. This direction makes it possible to define a smoother surface than another which will make it possible, during the traction of the device according to the invention, for the latter to slide on the floor in order to relieve the person skilled in the art.

Advantageously, the vertical walls 2c, 2d have a height greater than that of the vertical walls 2a, 2b, and they therefore descend lower than the vertical walls 2a, 2b. The weight of the adhesive distribution device according to the invention is mainly distributed over the above-mentioned folds 16 making it possible to reduce the friction of the walls 2a, 2b which do not have this protuberance 15. Moreover, this device allows a pre-gluing which the also called the pass application of a thickness which will be relatively equal to the difference in height between a lower portion of the teeth 5 of the vertical wall 2a, 2b and the support surface 18 of the folds 16 of the vertical wall 2c, 2d.

Figure 6 illustrates the bar 3, provided with the lever 7 to be held in the hand by the user and an end 8 opposite the handle 7 whose shape allows a removable association on the handle 4 of the housing 2. In addition , the bar 3 can be inclined at a variable angle, and this bar 3 is preferably telescopic to be adaptable to the size of the user.

Advantageously, the vertical wall 2c, 2d comprises a handle 4 identical to or different from the handle 4 disposed on said wall vertical 2a, 2b. This makes it possible to quickly interchange the second 2a and the first 2b and the second 2c and the third vertical wall 2d, without disassembling the device 1 since it is then sufficient to turn a quarter turn relative to the direction of the traction of the device 1 according to the invention.

The adhesive distribution device 1 according to the invention provides that the housing 2 is preferably made of stainless steel (15/10, 18/10), so as to be solid, washable and heavy enough not to lift when the user pulls it to spread the glue.

Other materials may be used such as galvanized steel of ceramic or a rigid plastic material.

The glue distribution device 1 of the invention is mainly used in the context of the laying of floor tiles, but other floor coverings require the use of glue, such as carpet, linoleum, cork, glued parquet.

Figures 7a to 7d illustrate the possibility of having a shutter plate 9 which allows to determine six different laying widths depending on the size of the tiles to be glued. Thus a glue distribution device 1 of the invention can have dimensions ranging from 30 to 80 cm and preferably from 40 to 72 cm, this including all the possible intermediate sizes.

Figure 8 illustrates a method of adjusting the width of the housing 2 by means of a butterfly screw 11 which slides in a slideway 10 so as to narrow or widen the toothed edge.

The glue distribution device 1 of the invention may be provided with rollers 12, as shown in FIG. 9 to facilitate traction.

In the case where the user wants to glue large tiles (at least 40 cm x 40 cm), it is not necessary to also glue the underside of the tiles before placing it on the layer of glue distributed on the ground by the glue distribution device 1 of the invention.

The glue distribution device 1 of the present invention thus makes it possible to eliminate the gluing of large tiles while obtaining an effective gluing of these on the floor.

Figure 10 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention. In this embodiment, the housing 2 comprises three vertical walls 2b, 2c, 2d. The first wall is adjustable in length by means of a groove 10 in which a fixing means slides, for example a butterfly screw or any other fastening means, such as a clip or other.

The teeth 5 are located on an interchangeable plate 13 of adjustable length, the interchangeable plate is fixed to the first wall 2b by mutual recess means 19 and 19 '.

The device comprises a U-shaped part 15 comprising an upper opening and a lower bearing surface 18. The lower edges of the second 2c and third vertical wall 2d of the housing 2 are slid into the U-shaped part 15 by the upper opening of the latter.

This is equivalent to equipping the casing 2 with pads 15 in order to delay the wear of the teeth 5 and to facilitate the sliding of the device according to the invention since the bearing surface 18 rests on the ground and the teeth 5 are not to them, not in contact with the ground.

The handle 4 connects the upper edges of the second 2c and third vertical walls 2d, the handle is adjustable in length.

A second handle 4 ', also adjustable in length connects the upper edges of the second 2c and third vertical walls 2d.

Putting the handle at this point allowed to obtain a device of superior rigidity, this handle plays indeed the role of bar reinforcement, it is preferably adjustable, and stretchable or retightenable at the same time as the vertical walls.

According to the requirements, the user can use the first located towards the rear or the second located for example forward and affixing the telescopic bar assisting traction such as that shown in Figure 6.

In Figure 11, we can see the counterweight 17 which is intended to be disposed at the first vertical wall 2b, preferably on the upper edge of the first vertical wall 2b.

In the case of a very large user or a heavy glue and very thick, it may be advantageous to have a weight to be affixed to said first wall to prevent the unexpected lifting. The weight is arranged astride the wall by appropriate fastening means.

It is understood that the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described above and that many modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (22)

1. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings, comprising a quadrangular housing (2) open at least on its lower face, said housing (2) comprising at least a first (2b), a second (2c) and a third (2d) vertical wall, said second (2c) and third (2d) vertical walls being opposite each other and each of said vertical walls comprising a lower edge and an upper edge, said housing (2) comprising at least one handle (4) and at least said first vertical wall comprising teeth (5) on the lower edge, said vertical walls (2b, 2c, 2d) having an adjustable length designed to be adapted to a tile dimension, characterised in that said at least one handle (4) connects the top edges pf the second (2c) and third (2d) vertical walls and in that said handle is adjustable for length.
2. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to Claim 1, also comprising a fourth vertical wall (2a).
3. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to one of Claims 1 or 2, wherein at least one of said vertical walls comprises teeth on the upper edge.
4. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, also comprising a U-shaped component (15) comprising an upper opening and a lower support surface (18), said U-shaped component being provided in order to be disposed on the lower edge of said second and third vertical walls of said housing.
5. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said second (2c) and third (2d) vertical walls have, at least at the lower edge, a protuberance (15) extending downwards folded upwards, said protuberance having a lower support surface (18).
6. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein said lower support surfaces (18) of said second (2c) and third (2d) walls are situated at least lower than said lower edge of said first wall (2b) and/or of the fourth wall (2a), when the device is assembled.
7. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein said teeth (5) are situated on at least one edge of.an interchangeable plate (13), designed to be fixed at the edge of at least one of said vertical walls.
8. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein said interchangeable plates (13) have an adjustable length.
9. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein said teeth (5) are integral with said edge of at least one of said vertical walls.
10. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein said teeth (5) have a height and/or a width and/or a spacing different from one edge to the other and/or from one interchangeable plate (13) to another.
11. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein at least said fourth (2a) vertical wall comprises said handle (4) on an external face.
12. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein at least two vertical walls comprise an identical or different handle (4) on the external face.
13. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to Claim 1 to 12, wherein a second handle, adjustable in length, connects the upper edges of the second (2c) and third (2d) vertical walls.
14. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to one of Claims 1 to 13, also comprising a bar (3), one end (8) of which has a shape designed to be associated with the handle (4) of the housing (2), in an articulated and removable manner.
15. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to Claim 14, wherein the bar (3) is telescopic.
16. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to one of Claims 1 to 15, wherein the teeth (5) have a height (h) and a width (w) in mm (h x w) chosen from amongst the following: 6 x 6, 8 x 8,8x10, 10x12, 12x14.
17. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to one of Claims 1 to 16, wherein the teeth (5) have a spacing by a distance (in mm) chosen from amongst the following: 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14.
18. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to one of Claims 1 to 17, wherein the length of said vertical walls lies in the range 30 cm to 80 cm, and preferably 40 cm to 72 cm.
19. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to one of Claims 1 to 18, wherein the housing (2) is also provided with a masking plate (9) designed to be affixed to the internal face of at least one of said vertical walls at the level of the teeth (5), the masking plate (9) being designed to mask at least one of said teeth (5).
20. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to one of Claims 1 to 19, wherein a panel (14) is designed to be affixed to the internal face of at least one of said vertical walls provided with teeth (5), the panel (14) being designed to slide vertically so as to vary the height of the teeth (5).
21. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to one of Claims 1 to 20, wherein a counterweight (17) is designed to be disposed in the region of the first vertical wall (2b), in particular on the upper edge of said first vertical wall (2b).
22. Device (1) for spreading adhesive for floor coverings according to one of Claims 1 to 21, characterised in that it is manufactured from a material chosen from the group consisting of stainless steel, galvanised steel, rigid plastic, ceramic and mixtures thereof.

Images