Carpet-stretching device

Details Carpet-stretching device Carpet-stretching device

2001-09-07

2003-07-22

Kramer, Dean J. (Department: 3652)

Handling: hand and hoist-line implements

Carpet stretcher

C254S200000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06595565

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to carpet-stretching devices, and in particular to devices for stretching carpets over a fixing strip (such as a wooden bar with upwardly projecting pins) secured to a floor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Known devices of this kind are often referred to in the art as “knee kickers”.
One such knee kicker is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,882,642 (to Harvey J. Hill), and is illustrated schematically in
FIGS. 1 and 2
. As shown in
FIG. 1
, this prior art device
1
comprises a head portion
10
that is attached to a padded end portion
20
by means of a longitudinal shank
30
.
The shank
30
is adjustable for length, and the head portion
10
is provided with an adjusting dial
40
(and associated hidden mechanism) that permits the exposed length of a number of carpet engaging pins
50
(see
FIG. 2
) to be adjusted.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, the underside of the head portion
10
is provided with a plurality of the aforementioned pins
50
. Rotation of the adjusting dial
40
causes a carrier body
60
—to which the pins
50
are attached—to be wound up or down (depending upon the direction of rotation) a threaded bolt
70
to which the adjusting dial
40
is connected.
It is apparent therefore that by rotating the dial
40
it is possible to adjust the extent to which the pins project from the underside of the head portion
10
, and hence the extent to which the pins will engage a carpet in use.
To use this prior art device, the carpet layer first sets (using the adjusting dial
40
) an appropriate projection extent for the pins
50
in dependence upon the thickness of the carpet he is laying. For example, for thicker carpets (such as so-called deep pile carpets) the pins can be set to project a relatively large distance from the underside of the head portion
10
. For thin carpets the projection distance is reduced so that there is less chance of the pins becoming engaged with any underlay provided beneath the carpet.
Once the correct pin projection has been selected, the kicker is placed on top of the carpet near a fixing strip to which the carpet is to be attached. With the head portion pointing towards the fixing strip, the carpet layer then pushes down on the head to engage the pins with the carpet.
When the pins are engaged with the carpet, the carpet fitter then kicks the padded end portion
20
, for example by means of his knee, to stretch the carpet over the pins of the fixing strip that has been secured to the floor.
Devices of this kind have proved useful for many years, but it has recently been noted that there are a number of problems and disadvantages associated with them.
For example, it will be noted from the above that these devices have a large number of constituent parts, and as a consequence of this the devices are relatively expensive to manufacture and hence expensive to purchase.
Another serious problem is associated with the fact that this prior art device weighs in excess of two kilograms, and as a result it is a heavy piece of equipment for a carpet fitter to have to carry from one job to another. The weight of the device is such that it requires the carpet fitter to exert a significant amount of effort fitter just to get the device moving. This means that the device can be quite exhausting to use. It has also been noted that carpet fitters often have injured knees, and it has been postulated that these injuries could well be as a result of repeatedly impacting their knees against these relatively heavy devices.
A further problem associated with these devices is that as they are made up of a number of moving parts (such as the length-adjustable shank and the adjustable pins), a significant proportion of the force transferred to the device when the padded end portion is kicked is absorbed by the moving parts. This means that the moving parts have to be relatively rugged, and hence more expensive than they would otherwise need to be.
Another disadvantage associated with the provision of moving parts is that even when the device is engaged with a carpet it will still be possible to move it to a limited extent. Carpet layers, who would expect there to be no movement of the device, will then be able to sense this movement when the device is used with the result that their confidence in the device will be reduced.
A further disadvantage is associated with the shape of the device. As shown in
FIG. 2
, the shank
30
is bent generally at right angles where it connects to the head portion
10
, and this means that any force applied to the padded end portion will be directed (by the bent shank) down towards the floor (as illustrated by arrow
90
). Applying the force to the floor in this way often causes the head portion to move away from the floor, and become detached from the carpet, when the padded end portion is kicked. This can cause the carpet to be damaged. Even if the head portion does not come away from the carpet, driving it downwards can be problematic in itself as it can cause the pins to engage any underlay provided beneath the carpet.
It is also apparent that effort applied when the head comes away from the carpet is largely wasted effort, and it would be desirable to reduce this so that the device is less exhausting to use.
A further problem associated with this device is that it is difficult to release the head portion from the carpet without also pulling the carpet off the pins of the fixing strip. In other words, it is not possible when using this known device to hold the carpet to the fixing strip when the device is removed.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,374,023 and 2,714,274 (also to Harvey J. Hill) disclose other carpet stretching devices that suffer from the problems and disadvantages discussed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to address, and preferably alleviate, at least some of the problems identified above.
One object of a preferred embodiment is to provide a carpet-stretching device that is less expensive to manufacture, and hence less expensive to purchase.
Another object of the invention is to provide a carpet-stretching device which not as heavy as the aforementioned prior art devices.
Another object of a preferred embodiment is to provide a carpet-stretching device that does not include any moving parts.
Yet another object of a preferred embodiment is to provide a carpet-stretching device that is shaped to reduce the force applied to the carpet in a downward direction when the padded end portion is kicked. In other words, it is an object of a preferred embodiment to provide a carpet-stretching device that is less likely to come away from the carpet when the padded end portion is struck.
Yet another object of a preferred embodiment is to provide a carpet-stretching device that can more easily be released from the carpet once the carpet has been stretched.
In pursuit of the aforementioned objects, one presently preferred embodiment of the invention provides a carpet-stretching device for stretching a carpet laid over a floor onto a fixing strip, the device comprising: a shank having a first end and a second end; a head portion carrying a plurality of carpet engaging pins provided at said first end of said shank; and an end portion provided at said second end of said shank, wherein the shank, head portion, and end portion are generally linearly arranged so that the application of a force to said end portion, in use, tends to drive said carpet in a direction that is generally parallel to the device rather than towards said floor.
This embodiment of the invention is advantageous over the prior art since the device is less likely to come away from the floor when struck.
Preferably, the head portion is provided with a number of longitudinal holes. These holes allow pressure to be applied to the carpet to fix it to the strip without having first to remove the carpet-stretching device.
Preferably, the shank, head portion, and end portion are integrally formed as one piece. This is advantageous since the device no longer has any moving parts,

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