US 12,129,670 B2
Device for leveling and aligning tiles and method for leveling and aligning tiles
Clinton D. Bunch, Keller, TX (US); and Joshua A. Bunch, Keller, TX (US)
Assigned to Acufloor, LLC, North Richland Hills, TX (US)
Filed by Acufloor, L.L.C., North Richland Hills, TX (US)
Filed on Nov. 17, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/528,736.
Application 17/528,736 is a continuation of application No. 17/516,095, filed on Nov. 1, 2021.
Application 17/516,095 is a continuation of application No. 16/685,036, filed on Nov. 15, 2019, granted, now 11,162,266, issued on Nov. 2, 2021.
Application 16/685,036 is a continuation of application No. 16/102,344, filed on Aug. 13, 2018, granted, now 10,704,274, issued on Jul. 7, 2020.
Application 16/102,344 is a continuation of application No. 15/345,802, filed on Nov. 8, 2016, granted, now 10,047,530, issued on Aug. 14, 2018.
Application 15/345,802 is a continuation of application No. 15/044,907, filed on Feb. 16, 2016, granted, now 9,487,959, issued on Nov. 8, 2016.
Application 15/044,907 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/859,316, filed on Apr. 9, 2013, granted, now 9,260,872, issued on Feb. 16, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0074214 A1, Mar. 10, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E04F 21/20 (2006.01); E04F 21/00 (2006.01); E04F 21/18 (2006.01); E04F 21/22 (2006.01); E04F 13/08 (2006.01); E04F 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC E04F 21/20 (2013.01) [E04F 21/0092 (2013.01); E04F 21/1844 (2013.01); E04F 21/1877 (2013.01); E04F 21/22 (2013.01); E04F 13/0892 (2013.01); E04F 15/02005 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tile leveling device comprising:
a body defining an open window;
a base orthogonally coupled to the body, the base extending to a front of the body and the base extending to a rear of the body;
a base to body coupling including a frangible breakaway section, the base and body being integral prior to frangible separation, the frangible breakaway section being configured to frangible separate the body from the base;
a first through notch formed at the base extending from proximate the base to body coupling to the front of the body;
a second through notch formed at the base extending from proximate the base to body coupling to the rear of the body;
the base being configured to provide tile-to-mortar-to-base-to-mortar-to-subfloor contact; and
a combination of the first through notch and the second through notch being configured to provide a majority of an area of the tile-to-mortar-to-subfloor contact for the tile leveling device;
a front spacing pad integral with the body and extending from the front thereof;
a rear spacing pad integral with the body and extending from the rear thereof;
the combination of the front spacing pad, the body, and the rear spacing pad setting a predetermined joint distance that is greater than a thickness of the body for the tile leveling device within a single product; and
a wedge device comprising a wedge member having a tapered surface penetrating the open window and configured to exert force against at least one tile.