CARPET STRETCHING TOOL AND METHOD FOR USE THEREFORE

Abstract

A carpet stretching tool comprised of a frame member and a head moving mechanism for attachment to the frame member to bias carpet towards a wall. The frame member of the invention comprises a pair of frame side members connected at one end by an engagement member, at the opposite end by a rear member and between the engagement member and the rear member, by a handle member. The head moving mechanism is attached to the rear frame member and comprises a carpet engaging head that is operable to extend and retract the head relative to the rear frame member and is permitted to slide laterally along the length of the rear frame member.

Description

This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/334,737 filed May 14, 2010

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter described herein relates to tensioning apparatus and methods. More specifically, the subject matter described herein refers to compact and light-weight carpet stretching tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When carpet is installed, the carpet is often secured to the underlying floor along the perimeter of the floor area. Thin strips of wood having carpet-gripping tacks protruding upwards therefrom (known as “tack strips”) are fastened to the periphery of the floor area in order to secure the underside of the carpet to the floor. In general, the carpet is secured to the tack strips along one side of the floor area, and then the carpet is stretched across the floor area. Next, the stretched carpet is secured to the tack strips along an opposite edge of the floor area. This process is repeated with the remaining unsecured edges of the carpet, until the carpet has been stretched and installed as desired. The carpet may be more permanently secured to the floor by flattening the tacks in the tack strip using a hammer or other suitable tool.

Carpet installers typically use a stretching tool consisting of a long multi-piece tube with a carpet-engaging head at one end of the tube and a pressure plate at the other end of the tube. A desired pole length is achieved by insertion of extension poles. The pressure plate is placed against a first wall, and the head is placed in engagement with carpet near a second, opposing wall. A lever is then actuated to extend the head toward the second wall, forcing the head away from the pressure plate. The carpet is thereby stretched in a direction away from the first wall and toward the second wall. The stretched carpet is pressed down on the tack strips near the head unit and the operation is repeated.

Standard carpet stretching tools are typically carried to a room in pieces and assembled inside the workspace, primarily because a conventional stretcher can easily exceed 20 feet in length. A number of extension poles sections are carried to the worksite together with the pressure plate and head units, after which the stretcher is assembled.

The aggregate weight of a standard stretching apparatus often exceeds 90 pounds. Especially for installation of carpet in large rooms, a substantial number of poles are used to construct the stretching apparatus. The combined weight of the extension poles, the head unit and the pressure plate section usually varies from about 80 to 100 pounds.

The size and weight of a conventional stretcher unit affects the ease and speed with which an installer may complete a carpet installation. During a typical installation, the carpet is stretched at lateral intervals of about 2-4 feet, meaning that an installer must move the carpet stretcher about several times for each wall. The speed and ease with which the stretcher can be relocated may have a significant affect on installation times.

In conventional systems the pressure plate is often placed against the opposing baseboard or wall in which case care must be taken not to damage the baseboard or wall during a stretching operation. If too much force is applied during the stretching operation, the pressure plate may cause cracking, indentation, or other damage to the baseboard or wall against which it is pressed.

Room size and configuration may also limit current methods. Typically carpet is stretched by anchoring the system against the opposing wall. If an expanse of carpet is to be stretched over a tack strip which does not face an opposing wall, alternate methods and/or tools may be required to complete the installation. The same may be true for rooms exceeding the combined length of extension poles on hand or the maximum recommended length of a stretching unit, beyond which the extension poles may bow.

Current carpet stretching tools may also limit effective installation in corners. Carpet stretchers are typically used in connection with tools such as chisels, which are used to press the carpet downwardly onto tack strips. In the inventor's experience, prior chisels can have limited effectiveness when used in connection with carpet stretching devices because they do not fit underneath the side frame members of the carpet stretching device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, the claimed invention provides a compact carpet stretcher including a frame member and a head moving mechanism attached to the frame member. The frame member comprises a pair of side frame members interconnected by an engagement plate, a handle and a rear frame member. The head moving mechanism is attached to the rear frame member via a connection member. The connection member is attached in a sliding fashion to the rear frame member, permitting the installer to slide the head moving mechanism along the rear frame member.

The claimed invention further provides a head moving mechanism that is operable to apply force through a head member to stretch a carpet in order to provide a smooth carpet installation and then be retracted. In the claimed invention, the head moving mechanism is attached to the connection shaft via an attachment shaft. A slider link actuated by an actuation lever serves to move head member both towards and away from the engagement member.

The claimed invention provides a compact, lightweight device for use to stretch carpet for installation. Advantageously, the claimed invention is usable without extension poles. The claimed invention is also operable to stretch carpet without the use of a potentially damaging pressure plate on an opposing wall. The claimed invention is further operable to reduce the amount of repositioning required in order to install a given size of rug be providing a head moving mechanism that can be moved laterally by sliding the head moving mechanism along the rear frame member without moving the frame member.

The claimed invention further provides a unique chisel for use in firmly attaching the stretched carpet to the tack strips. The chisel is particularly advantageous in that it fits underneath the frame side members of the carpet stretcher, thereby permitting a user to press the carpet immediately underneath the side members and slightly outside the frame side members, onto the tack strip. Advantageously, the handle of the chisel is angled backwardly so as to reduce contact between a user's hand and the wall of a room.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top and front perspective view of a carpet stretcher constructed in accordance with the claimed invention.

FIG. 2 is a top and front perspective view of the frame member of a carpet stretcher constructed in accordance with the claimed invention.

FIG. 3 is a top and front perspective view of the head moving mechanism of a carpet stretcher constructed in accordance with the claimed invention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the head moving mechanism of a carpet stretcher constructed in accordance with the claimed invention.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the chisel used in connection with the carpet stretcher.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the chisel used in connection with the carpet stretcher.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numbers refer to like elements throughout, FIG. 1 shows a carpet stretcher 1 generally comprising a frame member 101 and a head moving mechanism 201. While not required, it is preferable that the carpet stretcher 1 be able to break down into a frame member 101 and a head moving member 201 for ease of portability.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the frame member 101 is comprised of a pair of frame side members 103, 105 connected by an engagement member 107, a rear frame member 109 and a handle member 111. Each of frame side members 103, 105 includes a gripping member 117, 119. Gripping members 117, 119 are intended to grip the carpet so as to prevent lateral movement of the frame member 101. Gripping members 117, 119 are removable and replaceable so as to provide a wide range of different type of gripping members 117, 119 for use with different surfaces.

The engagement member 107 is attached to the frame side members 103, 105 and is used to temporarily anchor the frame member 101 to the floor. The engagement member 107 can be forced downwardly against the subfloor, biased against tack strips or pressed directly onto tack strips to temporarily anchor the frame member 101 to the floor so as to prevent lateral movement of the frame member 101.

The handle member 111 is used to reinforce the connection between the frame side members 103, 105. The handle member 111 is also used to move and carry the frame member 101 between carpet stretching positions. The handle member 111 can be of further assistance in raising and lowering the head member 211 using handle 229.

The rear frame member 109 connects the frame side members 103, 105. The rear frame member 109 provides a mounting point for connection shaft 113. Connection shaft 113 is connected to rear frame member 109 via mounting sleeve 115. Mounting sleeve 115 is permitted to slide along the length of rear frame member 109.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the head moving mechanism 201 comprises a head member 211. The head member 211 comprises a front side 221, a bottom side 223, a rear side 225 and a top side 227. The bottom side 225 of the head member 211 has a number of downwardly protruding members 239 that are operable to engage a portion of carpet during a stretching operation. The top side 227 of the head member 211 includes a handle 229 that the user can employ to position the head member 211 or to apply downward pressure to engage the downwardly protruding members of the head member 211 into the carpet.

A head moving mechanism 201 is provided that permits a user to apply a large amount of force through the head member 211 to stretch a carpet in order to provide a smooth carpet installation. The head member 211 is attached to the connection shaft 113 via attachment shaft 231. The head moving mechanism 201 further comprises a slider link 233 used to guide the head member's 211 path. The slider link 233 permits the head member 211 to extend toward the engagement member 107 and retract away from the engagement member 107 thus providing the head member 211 with a reciprocating path for stretching carpet.

The head moving mechanism 201 is further provided with an actuation lever 235 and a link 237 connecting the actuation lever 235 with the attachment shaft 231. The actuation lever 235 is rotatably connected to the head member 211 and link 237 such that as the actuation lever 235 is rotated downwardly towards the rear frame member 109, the slider link 233 moves the head member 211 towards the engagement member 107. To retract the head member 211 the actuation lever 235 is rotated upwardly away from the rear frame member 109 to retract slider link 233 into attachment shaft 231.

In operation, the carpet stretcher 1 is positioned such that engagement member 107 is temporarily secure along the edge of a room, such as adjacent to a strip of carpet tacks. With actuation lever 235 in the fully retracted position rotated upwardly away from rear frame member 109, head member 211 is engaged with carpet. Upon engagement of head member 211 with the carpet, user rotates actuation lever downwardly 235 toward the rear frame member 109, thereby extending slider link 233 and head member 211 and pushing carpet towards engagement member 107.

To retract head member 211, user lifts head member 211 via handle 229. Upon lifting head member 211, the head member 211 can be retracted by rotating actuation lever 235 upwardly away from rear frame member 109, thereby retracting slider link 233 into attachment shaft 231. User may then optionally repeat the process thereby further stretching the carpet. Alternatively, mounting sleeve 113 and head moving mechanism 201 are slidably movable along the rear frame member 109 such that carpet stretcher 1 need not completely moved to stretch an additional section of carpet.

Such sliding mobility along the rear frame member 109 advantageously reduces the amount of lifting and moving of the carpet stretcher 1 in securing a given length of carpet. Additionally, the sliding mobility along the rear frame member 109 permits a user to move the head member 211 closer to either edge of the engagement member 107, thereby making it easier to secure carpet in, for example, the corner of a room.

Applicant also provides a chisel 301 specifically adapted for use with the claimed invention. The chisel 301 comprises a handle 305 and a blade 303. The handle 305 is angled relative to the blade in order to gain some clearance between the handle 305 and any peripheral walls a user is likely to be laying carpet near.

In use, after the carpet has been stretched so as to minimize bubbling and wrinkling, the chisel 301 is used to press the carpet downwardly and onto the tack strips so as the secure the carpet to the floor in its stretched state. Advantageously, the blade 303 of the chisel 301 flares outwardly such that the chisel 301 can be used to secure carpet to the tack strips in the area underneath the side members 103,105 and to the side of the frame member 101.

In operation, a user of the claimed invention places the engagement member 107 of the frame member 101 near the wall such as behind the tack strip. The remainder of the frame member 101 is then situated over the carpet. User then operates the head moving mechanism 201 to engage the carpet and stretch the carpet towards the engagement member 107. When the carpet is sufficiently stretched in the direction of the engagement member 107, the user employs the chisel 301 to press the carpet downwardly onto the tack strip so as to secure the carpet to the tack strips along the engagement member. By proceeding along a line of tack strips, a user can secure the carpet in an efficient fashion.

Therefore, the invention provides a new method of rapidly and efficiently installing carpet. An installer using the claimed invention is able to place the carpet stretcher 1 in a single position and then to move the carpet stretcher 201 along the rear frame member 109 in order to stretch a given piece of carpet along the length of the engagement member 107. In operation, the user would preferably place the carpet stretcher in position and engage the head moving mechanism 201 to stretch the carpet towards engagement member 107. User would then secure the stretched carpet to tack strip using chisel 301. Next, user would release the head moving mechanism 201 from the carpet, slide the head moving mechanism 201 along the rear frame member 109 and begin the process again. User can continue to slide the head moving mechanism 201 along the rear frame member 109 the entire length of the engagement member 107. Such a method reduces the number of times the user is required to move the carpet stretcher 1 to secure a given length of carpet. Advantageously, as the head moving mechanism 201 is operable to slide along the rear frame 109, the head moving mechanism 201 is operable to stretch the carpet perpendicularly towards the engagement member 107 unlike prior devices which are fixed along the rear frame.

In accordance with the foregoing, it will be understood that there has been provided a new and nonobvious carpet stretching tool. Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A carpet stretching tool comprising:

a frame member having a rear frame member; and

a head moving member slidingly attached to the rear frame member.

2. The carpet stretching tool of claim 1 wherein the frame member further comprises a plurality of gripping members attached to the rear frame member.

3. The carpet stretching tool of claim 1 wherein the frame member further comprises a pair of frame side members, the frame side members being attached at either end of the rear frame side member, each of the frame side members having at least one gripping member.

4. The carpet stretching tool of claim 1 wherein the frame member further comprises a handle member between the frame side members.

5. The carpet stretching tool of claim 1 wherein the frame member further comprises a connection shaft slidingly attached to the rear frame member.

6. The carpet stretching tool of claim 5 wherein the head moving member is attached to the rear frame member via the connection shaft and wherein the head moving member further comprises a head and the head moving member is operable to extend and retract the head relative to the frame member.

7. The carpet stretching tool of claim 6 wherein the head moving member further comprises an actuation lever rotatably connected to the head member and a slider link such that as the actuation lever is rotated downwardly towards the rear frame member the slider link moves the head member towards the engagement member and, to retract the head member, the actuation lever is rotated upwardly away from the rear frame member to retract the slider link into the attachment shaft.

8. The carpet stretching tool of claim 1 wherein the head member further comprises a handle.

9. A carpet stretching tool comprising:

a frame member comprising a pair of frame side members connected at one end by an engagement member, at the opposite end by a rear member and between the engagement member and the rear member by a handle member; and

a head moving mechanism attached to the rear frame member, the head moving mechanism comprising a head and being operable to extend and retract the head relative to the rear frame member and being permitted to slide laterally along the length of the rear frame member.

10. The carpet stretching tool of claim 9 wherein a plurality of gripping members are attached to the rear frame member.

11. The carpet stretching tool of claim 9 wherein the frame side members further comprise at least one gripping member.

12. The carpet stretching tool of claim 9 wherein the head moving member further comprises an actuation lever rotatably connected to the head member and a slider link such that as the actuation lever is rotated downwardly towards the rear frame member the slider link moves the head member towards the engagement member and, to retract the head member, the actuation lever is rotated upwardly away from the rear frame member to retract slider link into the attachment shaft.

13. A method for installing carpet to a tack strip using a chisel and a carpet stretcher, the carpet stretcher comprising a frame member comprised of a pair of frame side members connected at opposite ends by an engagement member and a rear frame member, a head moving mechanism being attached to the rear frame member and being operable to move the head towards the engagement member, the method comprising the steps of:

securing the engagement member of the carpet stretcher along the edge of a room;

engaging the head member with the carpet;

actuating the head moving mechanism to push the head and carpet towards the engagement member;

using the chisel to press the stretched carpet downwardly onto a tack strip;

disengaging the head moving mechanism from the carpet; and

sliding the head moving mechanism along the rear frame member to a new position.