Carpet installation device for doorjambs

Abstract

The invention is directed to a carpet installation device for attaching carpeting to a floor surface along the peripheral edges of a doorjamb. The carpet installation device includes an elongated strip having top and bottom surfaces. The strip includes first and second outer wing sections, and a middle portion located between the first and second wing sections. The middle portion has first and second opposite ends, wherein the first and second opposite ends of the middle portion are respectively joined to the first and second wing sections. The middle portion and the first and second outer wing sections respectively define first and second inner angles. The strip is configured for positioning generally adjacent the peripheral edges of a doorjamb and further includes means for securing a section of carpet to the top surface of the strip, and means for fastening the strip to a floor surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to carpet installation devices. More specifically, this invention relates to a carpet installation device for attaching carpeting to a floor surface along the peripheral edges of a doorjamb.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fitting carpets is a time consuming exercise. While homeowners do not usually have to account for time spent fitting a carpet, the same is not true for professional carpet fitters and carpet fitting businesses. Put another way, for professional carpet fitting staff, there is an ever present need to lay carpets more efficiently. For example, carpet fitters typically cut pieces from a single long piece of tack-strip and fit the individually cut pieces around the doorjamb, which is a time-consuming exercise and is wasteful because some pieces are often not used. Thus, fitting carpets around doorjambs, i.e., door frames, presents a particular problem. A need exists for an efficient means of fitting a carpet around a doorjamb.

The Applicant is unaware of inventions or patents, taken either singly or in combination, which are seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a carpet installation device for attaching carpeting to a floor surface along the peripheral edges of a doorjamb. The carpet installation device includes an elongated strip having top and bottom surfaces. The strip includes first and second outer wing sections, and a middle portion located between the first and second wing sections. The middle portion has first and second opposite ends, wherein the first and second opposite ends of the middle portion are respectively joined to the first and second wing sections. The middle portion and the first and second outer wing sections respectively define first and second inner angles. The strip is configured for positioning generally adjacent the peripheral edges of a doorjamb and further includes means for securing a section of carpet to the top surface of the strip, and means for fastening the strip to a floor surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a carpet installation device, according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carpet installation device of FIG. 1 with the bottom surface thereof shown in outline.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carpet installation device of FIG. 1 fitted around an oversized doorjamb.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the of the carpet installation device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the carpet installation device of FIG. 1 fitted around an oversized doorjamb.

FIG. 6 is a partial view of the carpet installation device of FIG. 1 showing trigonometric features thereof.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the carpet installation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the carpet installation device according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This invention is directed to carpet installation devices. More specifically, this invention is a carpet installation device for attaching carpeting to a floor surface along the peripheral edges of a doorjamb.

The carpet installation device of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral 100.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective environmental of a carpet installation device 100, according to the invention. The carpet installation device 100 has been placed on a floor surface 120 around a doorjamb 140. The carpet installation device 100 comprises an elongated strip 160. The elongated strip 160 has top and bottom surfaces 180 and 200, respectively. The elongated strip is configured for positioning generally adjacent the peripheral edges of a doorjamb 140.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the elongated strip 160 comprises first wing section 220 and second 240 outer wing sections, and a middle portion 260 located between the first and second wing sections 220 and 240. The middle portion 260 has first and second opposite ends 280 and 300. The first 280 and second 300 opposite ends are respectively joined to the first 220 and second 240 wing sections. The middle portion 260 and the first 220 and second 240 outer wing sections respectively define first α₁ and second α₂ inner angles (see FIG. 5).

It should be understood that the construction of the strip 160 can vary without detracting from the spirit of the present invention as defined in the claims section attached hereto. For example, the strip 160 may be continuous, i.e., the middle wing sections 220 and 240 are permanently attached to the opposite ends 280 and 300 of middle portion 260. Alternatively, the first 220 and second 240 wing sections may be attached separately to the middle portion 260.

A plurality of tack elements 360 protrudes from the top surface 180 of the elongated strip 160, i.e., the plurality of tack elements 360 are positioned or received in the top surface 180 such that tack elements 360 have exposed sharp tapered ends for gripping to the underside of, for example, a carpet (not shown). The tack elements 360 can be tilted such that the tack elements 360 are tilted inwards such that when the carpet installation device 100 is fitted around a doorjamb 140, the tack elements 160 tilt towards the doorjamb 140 (see, e.g., FIG. 1). The tack elements 360 can also be used to grip the underside of carpet underlay.

A plurality of nail elements 380 are positioned or received in the top surface 180 of strip 160 and capable of being hammered through strip 160 and protrude from bottom surface 200 to enable the strip 160 to adhere to floor surface 120.

Each of the first α₁ and second α₂ inner angles can independently vary (i.e., can have similar or dissimilar angles) in the range between about 90° and about 150° or in the range between about 95° and about 130° or in the range between about 100° and about 120°. For example, both the α₁ and second α₂ inner angles could both have similar magnitude values selected from the group consisting of: 90° (±4°), 95° (±4°), 100° (±4°), 105° (±4°), 110° (±4°), 115° (±4°), 120°(±4°), 125°(±4°), 130°(±4°), 135°(±4°), 140° (±4°), 145° (±4°), and 150° (±4°). The α₁ and α₂ inner angles can have similar magnitudes; for example, α₁ and X2 could both have dissimilar magnitude values selected from the group consisting of: 90° (±4°), 95° (±4°), 100°(±4°), 105° (±4°), 110° (±4°), 115° (±4°), 120° (±4°), 125° (±4°), 130° (±4°), 135° (±4°), 140° (±4°), 145° (±4°), and 150° (±4°).

For example, each of the first α₁ and second α₂ inner angles can independently vary (i.e., can have similar or dissimilar angles) in the range between about 95° and about 150°. For example, both the α₁ and second α₂ inner angles could both have similar magnitude values selected from the group consisting of: 95° (±4°), 100° (±4°), 105° (±4°), 110° (±4°), 115° (±4°), 120° (±4°), 125° (±4°), 130° (±4°), 135° (±4°), 140° (±4°), 145° (±4°), and 150° (±4°). The α₁ and α₂ inner angles can have similar magnitudes; for example, α₁ and α₂ could both have dissimilar magnitude values selected from the group consisting of: 95° (±4°), 100° (±4°), 105° (±4°), 110° (±4°), 115° (±4°), 120° (±4°), 125° (±4°), 130° (±4°), 135° (±4°), 140° (±4°), 145° (+4°), and 150° (±4°).

Referring to FIGS. 3 through 6, the first and second inner angles α₁ and α₂ are separated by distance d₁ (see FIG. 5). When each of the first α₁ and second α₂ inner angles are between about 95° and 150°, the device 100 can be fitted around a wider than expected doorjamb 140′ (see FIG. 3), i.e., around a doorjamb 140′ with a width w (see FIG. 5), where w is greater than d₁. For example, when α₁ and α₂ are approximately equal in magnitude and in the range between about 95° and about 135°, the doorjamb 140′ can have a width w (see FIG. 5) based on virtual triangle ABC (see FIG. 6) of about:
w=d_i+((0.5)tan α₃*AB)

where, α₃ is angle ∠ABC, wherein α₃=(α₂−90°) where, AB is adjacent to angle α₃ or
w=d_i+(0.5)√(BC²−AB²)

where, BC is the distance between B and C, i.e., the hypotenuse of triangle ABC, and

where, AB is the distance between A and B.

When inner angles α₁ and α₂ are greater than 90°, for example, between about 100° to about 115° , can be fitted around a doorjamb 140′ with a width w greater than d₁ such that the strip 160 would not be able to wrap around the doorjamb 140′ with inner angles of 90° or less.

The carpet installation device 100 can be made of any suitable material such as a material selected from the group consisting of: wood, plywood, plastic, polyurethane, polyethylene, polyester, polyether, polyureas, polystyrene, and any combination thereof.

The carpet installation device 100 can be attached to a section of carpet using the plurality of tack elements 360 received in and protruding from the top surface 180 of the strip 160. Alternatively, any suitable adhesive can be applied to the top surface 180 for gripping the undersurface of a section of carpet in close proximity to a doorjamb 140. In addition, a combination of adhesive or tack elements 360 can be used to attach the strip 160 to a section of carpet.

The device 100 can be attached to the floor surface 120 using any suitable adhesive to attach the bottom surface 200 of the strip 160 to floor 120. Alternatively, a plurality of nail elements 380 received in the top surface 180 of strip 160 and capable of being hammered through the strip 160 to protrude from the bottom surface 200 to enable the strip 160 to adhere to a floor surface 120. The tack 360 and nail 380 elements can be spaced at predetermined positions.

The tack elements 360 can protrude vertically upwards at a perpendicular angle (i.e., at 90° ) with respect to top surface 180. Alternatively, the tack elements 360 can protrude individually at any predetermined angle between about 15° and about 80° or between about 15° and about 80° with respect to the top surface 180. The tack elements 360 can also protrude at predetermined angles such as 30° or about 45°.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are bottom views of the carpet installation device 100. While the dimensions of the carpet installation device 100 can vary, in a preferred embodiment the approximate dimensions are as shown in TABLE 1 below.

TABLE 1
(refer to FIG. 8) (Non-limiting examples of dimensions)
		Approximate range of	Non-limiting example
	Side	lengths in inches	lengths in inches
	a	2 to 3¼	2⅞
	a′	2 to 3¼	2⅞
	b	¾ to 1½	1
	b′	¾ to 1½	1
	c	3½ to 5	4 3/16
	c′	3½ to 5	4 3/16
	d	1¼ to 2¼	1⅞
	d′	1¼ to 2¼	1⅞
	e	1¼ to 2¼	1¾
	e′	1¼ to 2¼	1¾
	f	¼ to ⅝	⅜
	f′	¼ to ⅝	⅜
	g	2 to 3¼	2¾
	g′	2 to 3¼	2¾

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A carpet installation device for attaching carpeting to a floor surface along the peripheral edges of a doorjamb, said device comprising:

an elongated strip, said strip having top and bottom surfaces, said strip comprising first and second outer wing sections, and a middle portion located between said first and second wing sections, said middle portion having first and second opposite ends, wherein said first and second opposite ends of said middle portion are respectively joined to said first and second wing sections, wherein said middle portion and said first and second outer wing sections respectively define first and second inner angles, and wherein said strip is configured for positioning generally adjacent the peripheral edges of a doorjamb;

means for securing a section of carpet to said top surface of-said strip; and

means for fastening said strip to a floor surface.

2. The carpet installation device according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second inner angles are in the range between about 90° and about 150°.

3. The carpet installation device according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second inner angles have similar magnitude values selected from the group consisting of: 95° (±4°), 100° (±4°), 105° (±4°), 110° (±4°), 115° (±4°), 120° (+4°), 125° (±4°), 130° (±4°), 135° (+4°), 140° (±4°), 145° (+4°), and 150° (±4°).

4. The carpet installation device according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second inner angles have dissimilar magnitude values selected from the group consisting of: 95° (±4°), 100° (±4°), 105° (±4°), 110° (±4°), 115° (±4° ), 120° (±4°), 125° (±4°), 130° (±4° ), 135° (±4°), 140° (±4°), 145° (±4°), and 150° (±4°).

5. The carpet installation device according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second inner angles are approximately equal in magnitude and are in the range between about 90° and about 150°.

6. The carpet installation device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second inner angles are dissimilar in magnitude and are in the range between about 90° and about 150°.

7. The carpet installation device according to claim 1, wherein said strip is made of a material selected from the group consisting of wood, plywood, plastic, polyurethane, polyethylene, polyester, polyether, polyureas, polystyrene, and any combination thereof.

8. The carpet installation device according to claim 1, wherein:

said means for securing a section of carpet to said top surface of said strip is selected from the group consisting of: a plurality of tack elements received in and protruding from said top surface of said strip, and adhesive, and

said means for fastening said strip to a floor surface is selected from the group consisting of adhesive attached to the bottom surface of said strip, and a plurality of nail elements received in said top surface of said strip and capable of being hammered through said strip to protrude from said bottom surface to enable said strip to adhere to a floor surface.

9. The carpet installation device according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of tack elements and said plurality of nail elements are spaced at predetermined positions along said wing sections and said middle portion of said strip.

10. The carpet installation device according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of tack elements protrude from said top surface at an angle in the range between about 15° and about 80°.

11. The carpet installation device according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of tack elements protrude from said top surface at an angle of about 30°.

12. The carpet installation device according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of tack elements protrude from said top surface at an angle of about 45°.

13. A carpet installation device for attaching carpeting to a floor surface along the peripheral edges of a doorjamb, said device comprising:

an elongated strip, said strip having top and bottom surfaces, said strip comprising first and second outer wing sections, and a middle portion located between said first and second wing sections, said middle portion having first and second opposite ends, wherein said first and second opposite ends of said middle portion are respectively joined to said first and second wing sections, wherein said middle portion and said first and second outer wing sections respectively define first and second inner angles, said first and second inner angles are in the range between about 95° and about 150°, and wherein said strip is configured for positioning generally adjacent the peripheral edges of a doorjamb;

means for securing a section of carpet to said top surface of said strip; and

means for fastening said strip to a floor surface.

14. A carpet installation device for attaching carpeting to a floor surface along the peripheral edges of a doorjamb, said device comprising:

an elongated strip, said strip having top and bottom surfaces, said strip comprising first and second outer wing sections, and a middle portion located between said first and second wing sections, said middle portion having first and second opposite ends, wherein said first and second opposite ends of said middle portion are respectively joined to said first and second wing sections, wherein said middle portion and said first and second outer wing sections respectively define first and second inner angles, each of said first and second inner angles are in the range between about 95° and about 130°, and wherein said strip is configured for positioning generally adjacent the peripheral edges of a doorjamb;

a plurality of tack elements received in and protruding from said top surface of said strip; and

a plurality of nail elements received in said top surface of said strip and capable of being hammered through said strip to protrude from said bottom surface to enable said strip to adhere to a floor surface.

15. The carpet installation device according to claim 14, wherein each of said first and second inner angles are in the range between about 100°and about 120°.