Patent Application
20060282981
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
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.
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.
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.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
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.
Referring to
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.,
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
w=di+((0.5)tan α3*AB)
where, α3 is angle ∠ABC, wherein α3=(α2−90°) where, AB is adjacent to angle α3 or
w=di+(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°.
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.
