Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Carpet stretcher
Patent
1991-03-18
1992-09-08
Focarino, Margaret A.
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Carpet stretcher
254201, A47G 2704
Patent
active
051452251
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
THIS INVENTION relates to a carpet stretcher and particularly to a carpet stretcher which has greater versatility and is easier to operate than carpet stretchers of the prior art.
BACKGROUND ART
When a carpet is installed, as for example a wall-to-wall carpet, it is stretched by the carpet installer with the aid of a carpet stretcher. The carpet is usually stretched to engage a tackless strip. The tackless strip is usually fixed to a floor about the perimeter of a room at a position closely spaced from the walls. If the carpet is not stretched adequately and uniformly, undesirable effects can occur. If a carpet is overstretched joins can separate leaving unsightly delineations between sections of carpet. If a carpet is understretched it can bubble and/or ruck becoming unsightly and dangerous.
The stretching characteristics of carpets are complex and variable. For example, tufted carpets should be stretched equally along their length and width, Axminster carpets have more stretch in the length, so they should be stretched lengthwise first, woven carpets should be stretched widthwise first, in most cases Velvet and Wilton weaves should be stretched widthwise first.
Carpet manufactures recommend that jute-backed tufted carpets be stretched "drum-tight". The amount of stretch needed for a polypropylene backed carpet is usually calculated as one and a half percent of the carpet length and width. The amount of stretching required is further complicated for jute-backed carpeting of lengths longer than 7 meters because the carpet tends to drag against the underlay and make the stretch "feel" tighter than it really is. In addition the amount of stretch required for a particular type of carpet varies between carpets produced by different manufacturers.
As a consequence a carpet installer is usually a highly experienced well practiced individual who is capable of making a qualitative judgement whether or not he has stretched a carpet properly. If the judgement is incorrect the carpet usually requires restretching. If the carpet is overstretched and begins to contract after settling the carpet in question might have to be replaced at the expense of the carpet installer
There has been little attempt in the past to provide a carpet stretcher which could be used in a variety of applications and also provide a quantitative measure of carpet tension. Prior art carpet stretchers were either limited to operation by highly skilled carpet installers who relied on their experience to "feel" the amount of stretch. Alternatively, prior art carpet stretchers were too complex in construction.
The first generic carpet stretcher used to a large degree was the "knee kicker". The knee kicker had an elongate body and employed a carpet engaging head at one end and a knee pad at the other end. The carpet installer applied an impulse via his knee to the knee pad whilst the head was engaged with the carpet. The installer had to make a qualitative judgement of the amount of stretch in a carpet and chronic knee injuries were frequent. Examples of knee kickers are given in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,882,642 and 2,631,403.
To avoid injuries and the attendant compensation payments the "power stretcher" was developed. The power stretcher employs a carpet engaging head and a manually operable lever to extend the carpet engaging head and can be used to push from or pull to a stationary support. For example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,784,078 and 3,599,936 power stretchers are described which employ telescopic attachments. The telescopic attachments have a foot which in use is placed against a wall or other support near a fixed edge of a carpet being installed. The carpet engaging head is then engaged with the carpet adjacent an opposite edge of the carpet and the lever is pushed into its locked down position thereby extending the carpet engaging head a full length to stretch the carpet toward and into engagement with a fixed tackless strip. Some carpet installers recommend a plurality of full length extensions at each of a plural
REFERENCES:
patent: 3951382 (1976-04-01), Asbury
patent: 3977651 (1976-08-01), Chamberlain
patent: 4042211 (1977-08-01), Hammond et al.
patent: 4084787 (1978-04-01), Kowalczyk
patent: 4119338 (1978-10-01), Agcaoilli
patent: 4361311 (1982-11-01), Koroyasu et al.
Muller George M.
Stuart Gordon H.
Focarino Margaret A.
Kramer Dean J.
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