Carpet stretcher

Abstract

A carpet stretcher comprising: a head mechanism; a tail mechanism; and an elongate extender; wherein the head mechanism is connected to a distal end of the elongate extender, and the tail mechanism is connected to a proximal end of the elongate extender; and wherein: the head mechanism comprises: a head element having a carpet engaging surface; an extension element for extending the elongate extender at its distal end so as to urge the head element distally; and a lever mechanism for actuating the extension element; characterised in that the tail mechanism comprises a tail element having a carpet engaging surface.

Claims

1. A carpet stretcher comprising: a head mechanism; a tail mechanism; and an elongate extender; wherein the head mechanism is connected to a distal end of the elongate extender, and the tail mechanism is connected to a proximal end of the elongate extender; and wherein: the head mechanism comprises: a head element having a carpet engaging surface; an extension element for extending the elongate extender at its distal end so as to urge the head element distally; and a lever mechanism for actuating the extension element; characterised in that the tail mechanism comprises a tail element having a carpet engaging surface.

2. A carpet stretcher according to claim 1 wherein the tail element further comprises a foot plate surface, opposite its carpet engaging surface, upon which a user can stand with at least one foot during use.

3. A carpet stretcher according to claim 2 wherein the tail element is pivotably connected to the proximal end of the elongate extender, so as to be lock-ably pivotable about an axis which is perpendicular to its carpet engaging surface.

4. A carpet stretch according to claim 1 wherein the elongate extender is telescopically extendable.

5. A carpet stretcher according to claim 4 wherein the elongate extender is lockable in a plurality of selectable states of extension.

6. A carpet stretcher according to claim 1 wherein the carpet engaging surfaces of the head element and the tail element each comprises: a plurality of rigid carpet engaging spikes protruding from the carpet engaging surface.

7. A carpet stretcher according to claim 6 wherein the head mechanism and tail mechanism each comprises: an adjustable depth gauge mechanism comprising: a carpet engaging buffer, deployable from the carpet engaging surface between or around the rigid carpet engaging spikes, having a carpet engaging face which is substantially flush with the tips of the rigid carpet engaging spikes when at its maximal deployment; and a depth gauge actuator for deploying, retracting, and locking in place the carpet engaging buffer.

8. A carpet stretcher according to claim 6 wherein the direction of extension of the rigid carpet engaging spikes protruding from the carpet engagement surface of the head member has a component in the distal direction, and the direction of extension of the rigid carpet engaging spikes protruding from the carpet engagement surface of the tail element has a component in the proximal direction.

9. A carpet stretcher according to claim 1 wherein the lever mechanism comprises a ratchet mechanism to prevent proximal retraction of the head element during an operation in which the lever is being actuated to urge the head element distally.

10. A carpet stretcher according to claim 1 further comprising a force gauge for measuring the distal force exerted in use by the head member on a carpet, and a display means which displays the measured force to the user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0031] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings.

[0032] FIG. 1 depicts a carpet stretcher of the invention.

[0033] FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of the carpet stretcher in FIG. 1, showing its component parts.

[0034] FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of a carpet stretcher of the invention in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Throughout this specification, where use is made of relative positional terms such as upper, lower, top, bottom, above, or below, these should be understood assuming an ‘in use’ orientation, with the carpet engaging elements of the device in their carpet engaging positions relative to the rest of the device.

[0036] FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a carpet stretcher 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 shows an assembled carpet stretcher 1, and FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the same carpet stretcher 1, so that its components can be more easily identified.

[0037] The carpet stretcher 1 comprises a head mechanism 2, a tail mechanism 3, and an elongate extender 4.

[0038] The head mechanism comprises a head member 5 which is formed of a rectangular plate, preferably of aluminium, having a lower carpet engaging surface 6 and an upper surface 7. The upper surface 7 may be provided with a cover formed of injection moulded acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

[0039] The front or distal edge of the head member 5 is protected by a strip of rubber material 8, or another suitable buffer. This prevents damage to a wall or skirting board in the event that the head member collides with the edge of a room in use.

[0040] A handle 9 is pivotably connected to the upper surface 7 of the head member 5. This allows for easy handling and carrying of the device 1.

[0041] The head mechanism 2 further comprises an extension element 10, extending proximally from its rear or proximal edge. The extension element 10 is an elongate stem which is slidably received in the hollow distal end of the elongate extender 4.

[0042] The elongate extender 4 is a telescopically extendable, modular pole of substantially square cross section, preferably formed of aluminium. Its distal-most module 11, into which the extension element 10 is slidably received, is itself slidably received by the proximally adjacent module 12. The length of the distal-most module 11 which extends from the distal end of the proximally adjacent module 12 can be adjusted, selected, and locked by means of a plurality of holes 13 and a pair of adjusting plungers 14. A user is therefore able to fine-tune the length of the elongate extender 4 to better suit the dimensions of the carpet to be stretched.

[0043] The elongate extender 4 further comprises additional modules 15-17. The proximal-most module 17 is slidably received by its distally adjacent module 16, which is slidably received by its distally adjacent module 15, which is slidably received by its distally adjacent module 12. Each of the additional modules 15-17 can be extended from its distally adjacent module, and can be locked in either an extended or an un-extended position by means of a series of holes 18 and adjusting plungers 19. Thus, the length of the elongate extender 4 can, in the depicted embodiment, be selected between 1.8 metres and 5 metres, depending on the dimensions of the carpet to be stretched.

[0044] The proximal-most module 17 has a plurality of holes 18 along its length, for additional fine-tuning of the length of the elongate extender.

[0045] The tail mechanism comprises a tail member 20 which is formed of a rectangular plate having a lower carpet engaging surface 21 and an upper surface 22. The upper surface 22 of the tail member 20 provides a foot plate surface on which a user can stand with at least one foot in use.

[0046] The rear or proximal edge of the tail member 20 is protected by a strip of rubber material 23, or another suitable buffer. This prevents damage to a wall or skirting board in the event that the tail member collides with the edge of a room in use. It also enables the user to use the novel carpet stretcher 1 of the invention in the conventional manner, bracing the tail 4 against an opposing wall or skirting board to stretch the carpet, rather than bracing it against a more central area of carpet. Thus, the carpet stretcher 1 of the invention combines the advantages of the prior art with its own novel advantages.

[0047] A handle 24 is pivotably connected to the upper surface 22 of the tail member 20. This allows for easy handling and carrying of the device 1.

[0048] The tail mechanism 3 further comprises a pivoting connector 25 extending from its front or distal edge. This is connected to the proximal end of the proximal-most module 17 of the elongate extender 4, in such a way as to be pivotable about a vertical axis. The angle between the elongate extender 4 and the tail member 20 can be locked about the pivot point using a locking screw 26.

[0049] A first set of carpet engaging spikes 27 protrudes from the lower surface 6 of the head member 5. The spikes are preferably aluminium, and integrally formed with the head member 5. When the lower surface 6 of the head member 5 is placed on an area of carpet, the spikes of the first set of carpet engaging spikes 27 sink into the carpet and lock the horizontal plane position of said area of carpet to the horizontal plane position of the head member 5.

[0050] Because, in use, the head member 5 exerts a distal force on a carpet, it is advantageous for the first set of carpet engaging spikes 27 to be angled so that the direction in which each spike of the first set of carpet engaging spikes 27 protrudes from the lower surface 6 of the head member 5 has a distal component.

[0051] A second set of carpet engaging spikes 28 protrudes from the lower surface 21 of the tail member 20. The spikes are preferably aluminium, and integrally formed with the tail member 20. When the lower surface 21 of the tail member 20 is placed on an area of carpet, the spikes of the second set of carpet engaging spikes 28 sink into the carpet and lock the horizontal plane position of said area of carpet to the horizontal plane position of the tail member 20.

[0052] Because, in use the tail member 20 exerts a proximal force on a carpet, it is advantageous for the second set of carpet engaging spikes 28 to be angled so that the direction in which each spike of the second set of carpet engaging spikes 28 protrudes from the lower surface 21 of the tail member 20 has a proximal component.

[0053] Snap fit covers 29, 30 are provided for both the lower surface 6 of the head member 5 and the lower surface 21 of the tail member 20, preferably formed of injection moulded polypropylene. When the device 1 is not in use, that is, when the spikes of the first and second sets of carpet engaging spikes 27, 28 are not engaged with a carpet, the covers 29, 30 should be fitted so as to cover the spikes and prevent unwanted scratching or piercing of objects or persons by the spikes.

[0054] A head depth gauge 31 is deployable from the lower surface 6 of the head member 5. This comprises a pair of parallel, narrow plates, preferably formed of aluminium, which are located between rows of spikes of the first set of carpet engaging spikes 27. These plates can be raised or lowered relative to the head member 5 by turning a threaded bolt using an actuator 32 provided on the upper surface 7 of the head member 5. As the spikes of the first set of carpet engaging spikes 27 are sinking into a carpet, they are prevented from sinking farther when the carpet engages with the head depth gauge 31. Thus, the head depth gauge 31 is lowered for use with a shallow carpet, in order to avoid the spikes scratching the floor beneath the carpet by sinking too deeply, and is raised for use with a deep carpet, in order to ensure adequate engagement for stretching.

[0055] Similarly, a tail depth gauge 33 is deployable from the lower surface 21 of the tail member 20. This comprises a second pair of parallel, narrow plates, preferably formed of aluminium, which are located between rows of spikes of the second set of carpet engaging spikes 28. These plates can be raised or lowered relative to the tail member 20 by turning a threaded bolt using an actuator 34 provided on the upper surface 22 of the tail member 20. As the spikes of the second set of carpet engaging spikes 28 are sinking into a carpet, they are prevented from sinking farther when the carpet engages with the tail depth gauge 33. Thus, the tail depth gauge 33 is lowered for use with a shallow carpet, and raised for use with a deep carpet, in the same way as the head depth gauge 31.

[0056] A lever mechanism 35 connects the extension element 10 and the distal-most module 11 of the elongate extender 4. The lever mechanism comprises a lever handle 36 and a pivoting connector 37. The lever handle 36 is preferably formed of aluminium, and is pivotably connected at its distal end to the extension element 10. The pivoting connector 37 is preferably formed of stainless steel and is pivotably connected at its proximal end to the distal-most module 11 of the elongate extender 4, and is pivotably connected at its distal end to a point towards the distal end of the lever handle 36.

[0057] A rubber handle 38 may be provided at the proximal end of the lever handle 36, to improve both the grip and the comfort of a user when actuating the lever mechanism 35.

[0058] The pivotable connection between the lever handle 36 and the pivoting connector 37 comprises a ratchet mechanism so that, during a levering operation, it can only pivot in one direction, so that the lever handle 36 can only be pivoted proximally. Actuating the lever, in use, causes the extension element 10 and thus the head element 5 to be urged distally with respect to the elongate extender 4 and the tail mechanism 3, and it is this which causes the stretching of the carpet.

[0059] A method of stretching a carpet using a carpet stretcher according to the invention will now be described, with reference to FIG. 3.

[0060] When laying a carpet 39 using the carpet stretcher 1 of the invention, the user 40 will first select the appropriate length for the carpet stretcher 1 according to the size of the carpet 39. The embodiment described above can be extended from 1.8 metres to 5 metres. If the carpet 39 is too large to use the carpet stretcher 1 in the conventional way in which the tail member 20 is braced against a wall 41 opposite the part 42 of the carpet to be stretched, the length of the telescopic elongate extender 4 is selected so that the carpet stretcher 1 will extend from an area 43 approximately in the centre of the carpet to the edge 42 of the carpet to be stretched.

[0061] The depth gauges 31, 33 should be adjusted to suit the depth of the carpet to be stretched, and the snap fit covers 29, 30 should be removed, and then the carpet stretcher 1 can be positioned with the lower surface 21 of the tail member 20 engaging an area of carpet 43 approximately in the centre of the carpet 39, and the lower surface 6 of the head member 5 close to a first edge portion 42 of the carpet to be stretched. The spikes of the first and second sets of carpet engaging spikes 27, 28 will secure the head member 5 and tail member 20 to the carpet 39. Preferably, a second user stands on the upper surface 22 of the tail member 20 to secure it more firmly in place.

[0062] The lever handle 36 is then pivoted proximally by the user 40, urging the head member 5 distally, and stretching the carpet at the selected edge portion 42. The user 40 will pay attention to the force gauge (not shown), if one is provided, to ensure that neither the carpet 39 nor the carpet stretcher 1 is damaged by excessive urging of the head member 5.

[0063] Once the first selected portion 42 of carpet is satisfactorily stretched, the users 40, 44 adjust the position of the carpet stretcher 1 so that its head member 5 engages with an adjacent edge portion of the carpet 39, and the stretching operation is repeated. Once every edge portion of the carpet 39 has been stretched, the operation is complete.

[0064] Although the invention has been described above with reference to a particular preferred embodiment, the scope of the invention is not limited to that embodiment. Where particular material and configurations are named for the various components of the invention, the skilled reader will appreciate that other materials and configurations may be suitable to achieve the same purpose, and may be preferable in some embodiments. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims.