Patent Application
20210324643
The present invention generally relates to apparatus for the removal of carpet tiles glued to a floor, and more particularly, relates to a carpet tile lifting apparatus, and system for removing carpet tile from the floor.
Modern carpets for floor spacing of offices, homes, residential or commercial industries use carpet of different shapes and designs such as carpet tiles which are generally rectangular or square shaped carpets of small dimensions. These carpet tiles are glued or fixed to the floor using commonly available adhesives/fixing material. The removal of these carpet tiles thus becomes a challenging task every time when the floor is redecorated or resurfaced. The removal of these carpet tiles is done by using carpet cutters. Essentially, the cutter makes it possible to trim and cut the carpet tile in order to ensure proper removal. There are a number of different designs for the carpet cutter, ranging from simple devices that employ a single blade to larger carpet tools that make use of multiple blades.
A carpet cutter is a type of utility knife, which is a commonly used hand tool specifically used for cutting carpet or a rug. A conventional carpet knife has a housing made up of a right cover and a left cover detachably coupled together by a screw or threaded wheel to form the housing, comprising a handle and a blade chamber. The blade chamber carries a cutting blade. The blade chamber has a slot that allows the blade to move into an active cutting position. The housing may hold spare blades, which are accessible upon detachment of the right and left covers.
Further, the installation of carpeting on the floors of homes, office buildings, theatres and the like usually require a considerable amount of trimming or cutting. In the case of wall-to-wall carpeting, for example, the outer edges of the carpeting must be carefully trimmed to conform to the shape of the floor that is being covered; and confronting edges of adjacent widths of the carpeting must be carefully matched to avoid unsightly seams.
A prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,956A to Roberts discloses a vertically spaced carpet cutter for cutting overlapped carpet sections to be abutted. The cutter comprises a body, flat longitudinally extending base plate extending downward from the body and adapted to be drawn across the floor, and a handle extending upwardly from the plate for drawing the plate across the floor. Upper, lower and intermediate, elongated guides are spaced vertically below the handle and above the undersurface of the base plate forming a pair of vertically spaced, one-above-the-other, parallel, upper and lower, horizontally extending, longitudinal slots between the guides. A pair of overlapping carpet portions are respectively positioned in the slots. The carpet portions have a sliding engagement with the guides for maintaining alignment of the overlapped carpet portions suitable for making simultaneous, parallel, one-above-the-other, abutting cuts with the same stroke to concurrently sever the carpet backings of the overlapping carpet portions, so that the severed edges can be joined to provide an invisible seam. A blade attached to the body of the cutter in a configuration adjacent the guides have its cutting-edge intersecting with each horizontally extending, longitudinal slot for severing the carpet backings, as the base plate is drawn across the floor. A pair of oppositely diverging blades can be included for either right hand or left-hand usage, and the tool can be powered with a driven circular cutting blade. However, unlike the subject matter of the claimed invention, Roberts fails to disclose the removal of a plurality of carpets tiles in a single motion of the tool using a winch or a diverter pad and a cable.
In view of the deficiencies and drawbacks in the prior art, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved carpet cutter assembly presented with superior efficiency for lifting and removing a plurality of carpet tiles and is driven by a motorized winch.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a primary objective of the invention is to provide a carpet tile lifting apparatus or carpet tile lifter to lift and remove carpet tiles glued or fixed to a floor. The carpet tile lifter is user-friendly and lifts a plurality of carpet tiles simultaneously. The carpet tile lifter comprises a base plate and a base plate cover coupled to each other via a snap-fit locking mechanism. Further, the base plate is provided with a front cutting edge in a form of a pointed spik which is configured to slide underneath the carpet tile. The front cutting edge lifts at least two carpet tile corners simultaneously. Further, the carpet tile lifter comprises at least one wing coupled at one end with the base plate cover using a first plurality of screws. Further, the at least one wing comprises a first blade and a second blade coupled with each other using a second plurality of screws. Further, the first blade is coupled with the base plate cover via the first plurality of screws. Further, the base plate is configured to press against a carpet tile and the at least one wing is configured to lift the carpet tile rearwards.
Further, the carpet tile lifter comprises a housing coupled with the at least one wing. The housing encloses a plurality of wheels coupled to a first end and a second end of the housing via a first shaft. Further, the first shaft is coupled to a first gear. Further, the first gear is interfaced with a second gear transversely. The carpet tile lifter further comprises a second shaft coupled with the second gear. The second shaft is coupled between the first end and the second end of the housing. Further, the carpet tile lifter comprises at least one spiked roller coupled with the second shaft and interlocked between the first end and the second end of the housing. Further, the plurality of wheels impart motion to the at least one spiked roller via the first gear and the second gear, and the at least one spiked roller pulls the lifted carpet tile out of the carpet tile lifter. Such use of carpet tile lifter facilitates the removal of carpet tiles from the floor by lifting up at least two carpet tiles simultaneously.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the carpet tile lifter comprises a lockable swivel integrated on the base plate cover and interfaced with the first shaft at the first end. Further, at least one handle coupled with the lockable swivel via a pole handle. The at least one handle is configured to guide the plurality of wheels to keep the base plate and the at least one wing between the carpet tile and the floor. Further, the at least one handle is configured to apply downward pressure to assist the plurality of wheels in turning and thereby keep the base plate and the at least one wing firmly onto the floor. Further, the at least one handle is configured to move the base plate and the at least one wing, after the carpet tile is being lifted off the floor.
In one alternate embodiment of the present invention a carpet tile lifting system is disclosed. The system comprises a carpet tile lifter having a clamping hook integrated at one side of a base plate. Further, the system includes a carpet removing apparatus having a motorized winch coupled to the clamping hook of the base plate via a cable. The carpet removing apparatus is configured to pull the carpet tile lifter via the cable, and the cable is attached to the motorized winch at a first end and to the clamping hook at a second end. Further, the carpet tile lifter is configured to slide between a carpet tile and a floor to which the carpet tile is glued, and the carpet removing apparatus is configured to impart motion to the carpet tile cutter via the cable using the motorized winch.
To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific 15 embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the invention and are not intended to be restrictive thereof.
Reference throughout this specification to “an aspect”, “another aspect” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment”, “in another embodiment” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices or other sub-systems or other elements or other structures or other components or additional devices or additional sub-systems or additional elements or additional structures or additional components.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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Further, the at least one wing 108 may be coupled at one end with the base plate cover 104 using the first plurality of screws 110. Further, the at least one wing 108 may comprise the first blade 112 and the second blade 114. In an embodiment, the first blade 112 and the second blade 114 may be coupled with each other using the second plurality of screws 110. Further, the first blade 112 may be coupled with the base plate cover 104 using the first plurality of screws 110. In one embodiment, the base plate 102 may be configured to press against a carpet tile. Further, the at least one wing 108 may be configured to lift the carpet tile rearwards. Further, the housing 116 may be coupled with the at least one wing 108. Further, the housing 116 may comprise a plurality of wheels which may be coupled to a first end and a second end of the housing 116 using a first shaft. Further, the carpet tile lifter 100 may further comprise a first gear which may be coupled to the first shaft and a second gear which may be interfaced with the first gear in a transverse direction. In an embodiment, a second shaft may be coupled with the second gear. In one embodiment, the second shaft may be coupled between the first end and the second end of the housing 116. Additionally, at least one spiked roller may be coupled with the second shaft and may be interlocked between the first end and the second end of the housing 116. In one embodiment, the plurality of wheels may impart motion to the at least one spiked roller using the first gear and the second gear. Further, the at least one spiked roller may pull the lifted carpet tile out of the carpet tile lifter.
The carpet tile lifter 100 may further comprise a lockable swivel 118 integrated on the base plate cover 104 and may be interfaced with the first shaft at the first end of the housing 116. In one exemplary embodiment, the lockable swivel 118 may be configured to receive at least one handle (as shown in
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In one exemplary embodiment, the at least one wing 108 of the carpet tile lifter 100 may be, but not limited to in three sizes to lift different sizes of carpet tiles from the floor. One for the 12-inch carpet tiles. One for the 18-inch carpet tiles and one for the 24-inch carpet tiles. In one exemplary embodiment, the front edge or tip of the base plate 102 goes between the rows of the two tiles and at least wing 108 has a sharp triangle shaped tip that slides under the carpet tile and starts lifting and separating at least two rows of tiles the off the floor. In one embodiment, the at least one wing 108 may be detachable from the carpet tile lifter 100. Further, the at least one wing 108 may be provided with a slight raised section on the top of the triangle that helps the carpet tile lifter 100 follow the line between the two rows of tiles.
In one alternate embodiment, when the carpet tile lifts off the floor, it may slide across the top of the at least one wing 108 and may be pulled into the housing 116 by the at least one spiked roller 208. Further, the at least one spiked roller 208 may be driven by the plurality of wheels 202 under the carpet tile lifter 100 and consequently that may drive the at least one spiked roller 208. In one embodiment, the plurality of wheels 202 can be more like tracks, so it grips the floor better. Further, when the plurality of wheels 202 may turn, they may drive the first gear 308 that connects to the second gear 204 and then to the at least one spiked roller 208. Further, the motion transmitted via the first gear 308, the second gear 204 and the third gear 306 may keep the at least one spiked roller 208 turning in right direction and may keep a pressure on the lifted carpet tile as it may be pulled through the carpet tile lifter 100. In one embodiment, the at least one spiked roller 208 may be adjustable slightly up and down to accommodate different thicknesses of carpet tiles. In one embodiment, the at least one spiked roller 208 may be configured to pull the carpet tile through the carpet tile lifter 100 so that the base plate 102 and the at least one wing 108 of the carpet tile lifter 100 may continue to dig under the carpet tile to rip it off the floor. In another embodiment, the at least one spiked roller 208 may also move the carpet tile out of the way for a next tile to take its place and hit the at least one spiked roller 208 just as the preceding carpet tile. In one exemplary embodiment, when the carpet tile may be leaving the carpet tile lifter, it may fall onto the floor where it may be then picked up easily.
In one embodiment, as the motorized winch 702 may pull the carpet tile lifter 100 through the rows of carpet tiles, to remove at least two rows at a time which is much faster than conventional tools. In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one wing 108 may be used on just one side of the base plate 102 when there is no other tile on the other side.
In one alternate embodiment, the at least one handle 402 may be mounted to the carpet tile lifter 100 and may be coupled to the lockable swivel 118 where the at least one handle 402 may be locked into any position. The carpet tile lifter 100 may be guided by the at least one handle 402 to keep the base plate 102 and the at least one wing 108 between the rows of tiles. It can be noted that the at least one handle 402 may be used to apply downward pressure on the back of the tool to assist the plurality of wheels 202 in turning and to keep the carpet tile lifter 100 firmly on the floor. In one embodiment, the at least one handle 402 may be used to assist in turning the tool to line it up for the next row to pull up.
In one alternate embodiment, the front edge 606 of the at least one wing 108 of the carpet tile lifter 100 may have a hardened cutting edge that may slide between the carpet tile and the floor it is attached to. Further, the front edge 606 may act as a cutting edge and this cutting edge may be like a long chisel blade. In one embodiment, the front edge 606 may be sharpened, and may be removable from the at least one wing 108 of the carpet tile lifter 100 by loosening the second plurality of screws 110 imbedded in body of the at least one wing 108. In one embodiment, the angle of the front edge 606 may be adjustable by adjusting the second plurality of screws 110.
In one alternate exemplary embodiment, the carpet tile lifter 100 may be referred as a tool or lifting apparatus. Further, the carpet tile lifter 100 may be easily disassembled for easy cleaning. In one exemplary embodiment, the carpet tile lifter 100 may be provided with a storage container to protect cutting edges of the carpet tile lifter 100. In another embodiment, the storage box may also be provided to contain extra cutting blades and elements of the carpet tile cutter 100.
Therefore, it will be apparent for an ordinary person skilled in the art, that from the description above stated, that the carpet tile lifter 100 or may be referred as carpet tile cutter or carpet tile remover, can be used for a variety of applications, such as, but not limited to, the above-mentioned applications. Further, some applications in the field of removing carpet tiles glued to the floor, may be considered as a major aspect of the present carpet tile lifter 100 herein disclosed.
The drawings and the forgoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, orders of processes described herein may be changed and are not limited to the manner described herein. Moreover, the actions of any flow diagram need not be implemented in the order shown; nor do all of the acts necessarily need to be performed. Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples. Numerous variations, whether explicitly given in the specification or not, such as differences in structure, dimension, and use of material, are possible. The scope of embodiments is at least as broad as given by the following claims.
Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any component(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or component of any or all the claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/341796 filed on Jun. 8, 2021, titled “Carpet Pulling Apparatus And System For Removing Carpet” currently pending which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/234,219 filed on Apr. 19, 2021, titled “A Carpet Cutting Apparatus and A Method and System for Removing Carpet Bonded To A Floor” currently pending which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/596,539, filed on May 16, 2017, titled “Carpet Pulling Apparatus” now U.S. Pat. No. 10, 132,094. All of these application and patent incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17341796 | Jun 2021 | US |
| Child | 17364158 | US | |
| Parent | 17234219 | Apr 2021 | US |
| Child | 17341796 | US | |
| Parent | 15596539 | May 2017 | US |
| Child | 17234219 | US |
