Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force – Portable implements or apparatus for tensioning flexible... – Material comprises resilient floor covering
Patent
1993-05-21
1995-12-05
Stodola, Daniel P.
Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force
Portable implements or apparatus for tensioning flexible...
Material comprises resilient floor covering
254201, 254207, B65H 7700
Patent
active
054721709
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for stretching or tensioning sheet-like material such as carpet and to methods of stretching or tensioning such material.
This invention has particular but not exclusive use to the stretching of carpets, and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application. However it will be understood that this invention could be used in other applications where the stretching or tensioning of sheet-like material is required and references herein to "carpet" are to be construed as including reference to other sheet-like material.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Known carpet stretching equipment includes an extendable pole or support rod to which is attached a carpet gripping head or stopper. One end of the support rod is positioned against a wall of the area to be carpeted with the other remote end carrying the gripping head or stopper which grips the carpet with a large number of downwardly projecting spikes. The carpet is stretched by the application of force or pressure to the gripping head so as to cause the gripping head to move relative to the supporting pole. This arrangement is used for domestic installations as well as for large scale commercial installations. In practice the length of carpet runs which may be efficiently stretched by this method is limited to lengths of about twenty meters. Thus, where an extended length of carpet such as sixty or eighty meters is to be laid in commercial or industrial applications, the carpet must be stretched to this shorter distance and then tacked down or stay-nailed intermediate its length. The stretching equipment is then repositioned or extended and the stretching operation recommenced.
It is also necessary with existing arrangements for the stretching operation to be carried out repeatedly across the width of a carpet. This adds considerably to the time and effort required to lay the carpet.
Another disadvantage associated with the existing stretchers occurs when separate lengths of carpets are joined by applying a heat activated thermoplastic adhesive tape to adjoining seams o the carpet. Because the adhesive tape is not meant to be stretched, it is important that the lengths of carpet to be joined are equally stretched before application of the tape. As the requisite equal stretching is very difficult to achieve, joints often fail by cupping and breaking of the adhesive bond.
The current methods are time consuming and do not enable carpet to be stretched uniformly across its length and width. Consequently it is difficult with existing equipment to meet required standards when laying carpet, although experienced and skillful layers are able to approximate the standards required. Nevertheless it is not uncommon for bubbling and premature wearing to occur.
This invention aims to alleviate at least one of the above mentioned disadvantages and to provide stretching apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a carpet stretching assembly including; stably upon a carpeted surface; operable to stretch carpet from a selected portion thereof in the longitudinal direction of said mounting structure, and said stretching means and said anchoring means.
Preferably the mounting structure includes a plurality of scaffold frames adapted for assembly in end to end relationship. It is preferred that the mounting structure is constructed from aluminium or other light weight material having the required strength characteristics. It is also preferred that the width of each module of the mounting structure and the length thereof be such as will facilitate ready access by stairs, lifts, doors etc to areas where carpet is being laid.
The releasable stretching means and/or the carpet holding means may include any suitable arrangement whereby a carpet or the like may be gripped or otherwis
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Caresse Donealia Anasson
Mansen Michael R.
Stodola Daniel P.
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