Pull bar for click-and-lock flooring systems

Abstract

The present invention provides a pull bar and method for using the pull bar. The pull bar is used to pull together flooring boards that utilize a click-and-lock system. A handle is rigidly connected at an angle to a tapping block. A puller is rigidly connected to the underside of the tapping block. The puller has an angled lip that extends downward from the tapping block. A hook is connected to the angled lip and is for hooking a flooring board.

Claims

1. A pull bar for pulling together flooring boards utilizing a click-and-lock connection system, said pull bar comprising: A. a tapping block, B. a handle rigidly connected at an angle to said tapping block, and C. a puller rigidly connected to said tapping block, said puller comprising: i. a lip extending downward from said tapping block wherein said lip is an angled lip that extends downward and is angled away from said tapping block, and ii. a hook connected to said lip, said hook for hooking one of said flooring boards wherein each of said flooring boards comprises a groove side having a lower groove edge and an upper groove edge, wherein said angled lip contacts said upper groove edge and said lower groove edge so that a strike on said tapping block would be absorbed by both said upper groove edge and said lower groove edge.

2. The pull bar as in claim 1, wherein said puller is riveted to said tapping block.

3. The pull bar as in claim 1, wherein each of said flooring boards comprises a lower groove edge, wherein said hook extends under said lower groove edge.

4. The pull bar as in claim 1 wherein said angle of said handle is approximately 20 degrees.

5. The pull bar as in claim 1 wherein said angle of said handle is at least 10 degrees.

6. The pull bar as in claim 1 further comprising a shock absorption device attached to said lip and said hook.

7. A method for using a pull bar for pulling together a first flooring board and a second flooring board utilizing a click-and-lock connection system, each flooring board comprising a tongue side and a groove side, said method comprising the steps of: A. placing said tongue side of said first flooring board next to said groove side of said second flooring board, B. setting a pull bar on top of said first flooring board, said pull bar comprising: i. a tapping block, ii. a handle rigidly connected at an angle to said tapping block, and iii. a puller rigidly connected to said tapping block, said puller comprising: a. a lip extending downward from said tapping block, and b. a hook connected to said lip, said hook for hooking a lower groove edge of said first flooring board, C. pushing downwards on said handle to raise said first flooring board to an insertion angle, D. tapping said tapping block with a blunt instrument to lock said first flooring board to said second flooring board, E. locking said first flooring board to said second flooring board, and F. removing said pull bar from said first flooring board.

8. The method as in claim 7, wherein said puller is riveted to said tapping block.

9. The method as in claim 8, wherein said lip is an angled lip that extends downward and is angled away from said tapping block.

10. The method as in claim 9, wherein each of said flooring boards comprises a groove side having a lower groove edge and an upper groove edge, wherein said angled lip contacts said upper groove edge and said lower groove edge so that a strike on said tapping block would be absorbed by both said upper groove edge and said lower groove edge.

11. The method as in claim 8, wherein each of said flooring boards comprises a lower groove edge, wherein said hook extends under said lower groove edge.

12. The method as in claim 8 wherein said angle of said handle is approximately 20 degrees.

13. The method as in claim 8 wherein said angle of said handle is at least 10 degrees.

14. The method as in claim 8 further comprising a shock absorption device attached to said lip and said hook.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS. 1-4b show prior art methods and devices for installing click-and-lock tongue and groove flooring.

(2) FIGS. 5 and 6 show perspective views of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 7 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIGS. 8-13 shows a preferred method for using a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 14 shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 15 shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of pull bar 30. Handle 1 is rigidly attached to block 2. Block 2 is rigidly attached to puller 3. Preferably handle 1 includes rubber grip 4. In a preferred embodiment handle 1, block 2 and puller 3 are fabricated from a metal or a metal allow. Handle 1 is preferably welded to block 2 and puller 3 is preferable riveted to the bottom of block 2 via rivets 18 (FIG. 6). In a preferred embodiment pull bar 30 is approximately 14 inches long.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a side view of pull bar 30. Puller 3 is approximately 5 inches long and includes angled lip 37 having lower hook 38. Angled lip a37 is not perpendicular to but is rather angled away from block 2 as shown. Lower hook 38 hooks back towards block 2 as shown. Handle 1 is rigidly connected to block 2 at an angle connection that is preferably equal to approximately a 20-degree angle from horizontal.

UTILIZATION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(9) FIGS. 8-13 illustrate a preferred method of using pull bar 30.

(10) In FIG. 8, the installer has laid down engineered flooring board 10a on the floor. Spacer 50 separates board 10a from the wall. Board 10b has been placed next to board 10a in a position soon to be installed.

(11) In FIG. 9 the installer has set pull bar 30 on top of board 10b. Angled lip 37 is angled outward away from block 2 so as to be able to reach lower edge 96 of board 10b. The upper portion of angled lip 37 contacts upper edge 103 of board 10b so that a hammer impact against tapping block 2 will have its force absorbed by both lower edge 96 and upper edge 103. This will reduce the possibility of damage to board 10b or to lower edge 96. Hook 38 extends underneath lower edge 96 as shown.

(12) In FIG. 10, the installer has grabbed handle 1 of pull bar 30. The installer has pulled board 10b towards board 10a at only a very slight angle. The installer is stopped from pulling board 10b closer due to the modified tongue and groove junction between boards 10a and 10b. To properly lock board 10b to 10a, the installer will need to tilt board 10b to a greater angle.

(13) In FIG. 11, the installer has pressed down on handle 1. This has caused board 10b to tilt counterclockwise so that there is an increased angle between tongue 11 and groove 12. The angle will make it easier to lock board 10b into board 10a via the click-and-lock system described above. After positioning board 10b at the appropriate angle, the installer is tapping on block 2 with hammer 94 to easily move tongue 11 into groove 12.

(14) In FIG. 12 the installer has successfully locked board 10b to board 10a.

(15) In FIG. 13 the installer has removed pull bar 30 from board 10b. Now further boards may be installed in a similar fashion.

OTHER PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(16) FIG. 14 shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 14, shock absorption piece 99 has been placed between angled lip 37 and board 10b. Shock absorption piece 99 will absorb shock forces when hammer 94 strikes block 2. In one preferred embodiment shock absorption piece 99 is hard foam. It may also be fabricated from rubber, silicone or plastic.

(17) FIG. 15 shows another preferred shock absorption piece 101. Shock absorption piece 101 has been formed to very closely match the curvature of groove side 16 of board 10b. This will provide even better shock absorption protection of groove side 16 so that a strike on tapping block 2 would be absorbed by shock absorption piece 101, minimizing the risk of damage to upper groove edge and said lower groove edge

(18) Although the above-preferred embodiments have been described with specificity, persons skilled in this art will recognize that many changes to the specific embodiments disclosed above could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, although the above description stated that block 2 was rigidly connected to puller 3 via rivets, it could also be rigidly connected using other methods. For example block 2 can be welded to puller 3. Therefore, the attached claims and their legal equivalents should determine the scope of the invention.