Auxiliary device for laying flexible wall and floor coverings

An auxiliary device for laying flexible wall and floor coverings includes an elongated angle plate having a supporting surface for the material to be cut to size and a pressure strip having a lower pressure surface of approximately the same length as the supporting surface and which has a cross-sectional profile which is configured to complement the profile of the supporting surface. The supporting surface has at one end a wedge-shaped end portion, the outer edge of which defines a supporting edge, and a cutting edge defined at its opposite end, which edges lie in a base plane. The angle plate also includes a part having a locating edge disposed parallel to the cutting edge. The angle plate in cross-sections lies substantially within an imaginary triangle, with its cutting edge, supporting edge and locating edge passing through one corner of the triangle. The device is particularly useful in ensuing that the floor and wall coverings are cut cleanly and accurately to the desired size, in a relatively simple manner.

The present invention relates to an auxiliary device for laying flexible 
wall and/or floor coverings. More particularly, it relates to such a 
device having an elongated angle plate having a supporting surface for the 
material to be cut to size, a cutting edge defined at one end of the 
supporting surface, and a locating edge disposed parallel to the cutting 
edge. 
An auxiliary device of this kind is disclosed, for example, in British Pat. 
No. 851,088. In this case, the auxiliary device is in the form of an 
elongated angle plate, the two legs of which are approximately at right 
angles to each other. This known device is designed to cut wallpaper to 
size, with the outer edge of one leg, which serves as the locating edge, 
being placed against the reference line defining the area to be papered at 
right angles to the direction of the wallpaper; for example, against the 
upper edge of the skirting board. With the paper being already partially 
secured to the wall, the end to be cut is then pressed against the inside 
corner of the angle plate, and the cut is then made along this inside 
corner. Appropriate arching of the leg of the angle plate bearing against 
the wall compensates at least for the thickness of the other leg of the 
angle plate located between the reference line and the inside corner of 
the angle plate, so that, after removal of the angle plate, the cut paper 
can be fitted to the wall along the reference line. 
This device has numerous disadvantages and has therefore been found 
unsatisfactory in practice. One obvious disadvantage is that this device 
is difficult to handle since, while it is in use, it can be grasped and 
held only by the ends of the angle plate. Another disadvantage is that the 
paper to be cut to size must be bent sharply along the inside edge of the 
device if an accurate cut is to be made, which makes the device suitable 
for cutting to size only relatively thin material, such as wallpaper, but 
not floor coverings. Another disadvantage is that the cutting tool can 
penetrate into the material only as far as the thickness thereof, since 
the material on both sides of the cut rests upon the corner of the angle 
plate. In practice, therefore, the paper is actually more torn than cut. 
The cut is therefore not clean and tearing may thus occur along the 
parting edge, especially in the case of wet paper to which paste has been 
applied. 
It is the object of the invention to design a device of the aforementioned 
type, in such a manner as to overcome the disadvantages outlined above, 
i.e. the device is to be easy to handle, it is to be suitable for cutting 
to size not only wallpaper but also floor coverings and other similar 
types of thick materials, and the cutting tool is to be able to penetrate 
fully into the material being cut, and to project on both sides of the 
material in order to produce a clean cut. 
This object is achieved in accordance with the present invention, in that 
the angle plate, in cross section, lies substantially within a triangle, 
the locating edge, the cutting edge, and the supporting edge thereof, each 
passing through one corner of the triangle. The angle plate has a 
supporting surface for the wall or floor covering which runs, from a plane 
passing through the supporting and locating edges, initially in the form 
of a wedge, and then ascending more steeply to the cutting edge; the 
distance, as measured along the supporting surface, between the supporting 
edge and the cutting edge, is equal to the distance, as measured in this 
plane, between the supporting edge and the locating edge. A separate 
pressure strip is provided which is approximately of the same length as 
the angle plate, and has a pressure surface, the cross-sectional profile 
of which is designed to complement the profile of the supporting surface 
of the angle plate. 
This auxiliary device may be applied to the wall or floor surface to be 
covered in such a manner that the locating and supporting edges rest upon 
the area to be covered; the locating edge being aligned with the reference 
line, so that the material to be cut to size is lifted, in the vicinity of 
the supporting edge, from the wall or floor surface and is caused to 
ascend obliquely over the cutting edge. The device may be conveniently 
held between the locating and cutting edges, since a grip can be provided 
in this area. Since the supporting surface initially departs from the wall 
surface in the form of a wedge at a very acute angle and only subsequently 
rises more steeply, and since the covering resting upon the supporting 
surface can project, without any change in direction, beyond the cutting 
edge, relatively thick coverings may be placed upon the supporting surface 
without in any way impairing the accuracy of the cut. The cutting tool can 
pass completely through the covering in the vicinity of the cutting edge 
and can project adequately from both sides, thus ensuring a clean cut. 
According to one advantageous embodiment of the auxiliary device, the part 
of the angle plate adjacent the locating edge is provided, with at least 
one groove disposed parallel to the locating edge, located between the 
locating edge and the supporting edge. If the auxiliary device is rested 
with this groove upon the skirting board, instead of the locating edge, 
then the covering material is cut larger by an amount corresponding to the 
distance between the locating edge and the groove. This may be of 
advantage if, for example, the covering is to be applied not only as far 
as the skirting board, but also to the top surface thereof adjoining the 
wall surface to which the covering is to be applied. 
According to another advantageous embodiment, the angle plate comprises a 
plate-like section running between the supporting and cutting edges and a 
web running from the plate-like section to the locating edge. The free end 
of the web is preferably provided with a foot defining the locating edge. 
Grooves serving as auxiliary locating edges may, if necessary, be 
incorporated into this foot. 
In one particularly advantageous embodiment, a grip is provided in the 
angle enclosed by the plate-like section and the web, between the cutting 
edge and the locating edge and parallel with these edges. 
According to still another useful embodiment, a grip running parallel with 
the edge of the pressure strip is provided on the side remote from the 
pressure surface. 
According to one particularly advantageous embodiment, the an plate and/or 
the pressure strip are in the form of extruded sections, made, more 
particularly, of a light alloy. 
Finally, it may also be expedient to insert a reinforcing strip, preferably 
made of hardened high-grade steel, into the angle plate along the cutting 
edge. 
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent 
from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the 
accompanying drawing which discloses a single embodiment of the invention. 
It is to be understood that the drawing is designed for the purpose of 
illustration only, and is not intended as a definition of the limits and 
scope of the invention discloseed.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, since the auxiliary device 
according to the invention may easily be produced by cutting an extrusion 
into suitable lengths, it is unnecessary to show any view of the device 
other than the cross-section illustrated. It is desirable that the length 
of the auxiliary device shall correspond to the width of the wall or floor 
covering to be cut to size. 
The auxiliary device according to the invention, generally referred to by 
reference numeral 1 in the drawing, consists of two matching but separate 
components, namely a base section or angle plate 2 having a generally 
T-shaped configuration and a pressure strip 3. Essential to the correct 
functioning of section 2 are the three parallel, longitudinal edges 
thereof, namely the supporting edge 10, defining the outer edge of 
wedge-shaped portion 12, the locating edge 14, and the cutting edge 16. 
These three edges define the corners of a triangle within which the angle 
plate 2, in cross section, is inscribed. 
Since cutting the covering material involves running the cutting tool along 
edge 16, base section 2 is reinforced by embedding therein a reinforcing 
strip 18 preferably made of hardened high-grade steel. 
Running from supporting edge 10 to cutting edge 16 is a plate-like section 
20 which, in the vicinity of supporting edge 10, merges with the 
above-mentioned wedge-shaped portion 12. The top surface of section 20 
serves as a supporting surface 22 for the wall or floor covering to be cut 
to size. Wedge-shaped portion 12 is designed in such a manner that its 
bottom surface 26 defines a very flat, acute angle in relation to a plane 
24 passing through supporting edge 10 and locating edge 14. At the end 
remote from supporting edge 10, section 12 merges into section 25 which 
ascends steeply in relation to plane 24 constituting the base-plane of the 
device; the angle between plane 24 and section 25 being approximately 
45.degree.. In order to provide supporting edge 10 with a secure hold on 
the wall or floor, as noted above, bottom surface 26 of base section 12 is 
at a very small, acute angle relating to plane 24. 
Locating edge 14 is arranged at the outer end of a foot 28, the bottom 
surface of which is defined by plane 24, while outer surface 29 thereof, 
remote from supporting edge 10, lies approximately in a plane which joins 
locating edge 14 and cutting edge 16 and rises at an acute angle to plane 
24. Foot 28 is connected to plate-like section 20 by means of a web-like 
leg 30, the arrangement thereof being such that leg 30 and plate-like 
section 20 form approximately the two sides of an equilateral triangle 
erected upon plane 24. 
Located in the area enclosed by section 20 and leg 30, and between locating 
edge 14 and cutting edge 16, is an extruded arm constituting a grip member 
32, the outer edge 34 of which may be provided with a bead-like thickening 
which makes it easier to hold. This grip member 32 makes the device much 
more comfortable to work with. Pressure strip 3, which may also be an 
extruded section, consists essentially of a plate-like section 36 having a 
pressure surface 38 facing plate-like section 20; the cross-sectional 
profile of section 36 being designed to complement the profile of 
supporting surface 22 including the wedge-shaped portion 12. Fitted to the 
side of pressure strip 3 remote from pressure surface 38 is grip member 
40. Plate-like section 36 of pressure strip 3 terminates in an edge 42 at 
a short distance before cutting edge 16 which is chamfered at an acute 
angle so that the movement of the cutting tool is in no way obstructed 
during the cutting operation. 
When in use, the auxiliary device is placed with supporting edge 10 and 
locating edge 14 upon the surface to be covered with the wall or floor 
covering, in such a manner that the surface to be covered and base-plane 
24 of the device coincide. Locating edge 14 is placed against the 
reference line, for example, along the edge between vertical wall 43 and 
the floor of the room coinciding with plane 24. The floor covering to be 
cut to size, referred to by reference numeral 44 in FIG. 1, is laid upon 
auxiliary device 1 from supporting edge 10, over wedge-shaped portion 12, 
upon supporting surface 22, and beyond edge 16. Pressure is applied by 
strip 3 to ensure that covering 44 lies closely against the top surface of 
base section 2. A knife is then used to make a cut along cutting edge 16, 
whereupon the auxiliary device is removed and floor covering 44 is applied 
to the floor. Since the distance between supporting edge 10 and cutting 
edge 16, as measured along supporting surface 22, corresponds exactly to 
the distance between supporting edge 10 and locating edge 14, floor 
covering 44 will extend exactly to the edge between the floor and the 
wall. 
FIG. 2 shows the same auxiliary device being used to paste wallpaper 46 to 
a wall surface 43. In this case, a skirting board 50 is arranged between 
floor surface 48 and wall surface 43. Paper 46 may be applied so that the 
lower edge thereof fits along the edge between wall surface 43 and top 
surface 52 of skirting board 50, in which case auxiliary device 1 will be 
used in the same manner as that shown in FIG. 1, except that supporting 
edge 10 and locating edge 14 lie against wall surface 43, with the 
locating edge 14 in the corner, defined between wall surface 43 and top 
surface 52 of skirting board 50. 
On the other hand, the wallpaper may be required to cover not only wall 
surface 43 but also top surface 52 of skirting board 50, in which case the 
paper must be cut slightly longer. This is achieved in that foot 28 is 
provided, in its bottom surface defined by and facing plane 24, with an 
indentation in the form of a groove 54 running parallel with locating edge 
14. The lateral surface 56 of groove 54 remote from locating edge 14, 
preferably is inclined parallel with outer surface 28 of foot 28. The 
distance between locating edge 14 and edge 58 at the bottom of lateral 
surface 56 corresponds to the desired extra length of the wallpaper. 
If, as shown in FIG. 2, lateral surface 56 of groove 54 is applied to 
skirting board 50, instead of the locating edge 14, then paper 46, cut to 
size with auxiliary device 1 in this position., will be of a length such 
that it projects beyond the corner between wall 43 and top surface 52 of 
skirting board 50 and, then the paper 46 is applied to wall 43, the 
projection of the wallpaper will also cover top surface 52 of skirting 
board 50, as long as groove 54 is of the correct dimension. In case the 
wall or floor covering is required to be cut slightly longer, a second 
groove 60 may be provided, with a lateral surface 62 again running 
parallel with outer surface 29 of foot 28. In this case, the distance 
between locating edge 14 and the outer edge of lateral surface 58 may be 
ten millimeters, and the distance between locating edge 14 and the bottom 
edge of lateral surface 62 of second groove 60 may be twenty millimeters. 
If the paper to be applied to wall surface 3 is thin, it is desirable for 
the wall surface 43 to be completely smooth, i.e. any irregularities must 
be eliminated and any depressions filled. This may be accomplished quickly 
and cleanly by using pressure strip 3 as a trowel, as shown in FIG. 3. If 
the strip 3 is applied to the wall in such a manner that wedge-shaped 
portion 12 forms an upwardly open angle with the wall surface, plaster 64 
may be placed in this angle and may be applied to the wall, preferably by 
moving the pressure strip vertically up and down; the plaster being rolled 
in the gap between the pressure strip and the wall surface and being thus 
applied particularly uniformly thereto. 
As may be gathered from the foregoing description, the object of the 
invention is an implement which is of simple design, is easy to produce, 
is reliable, has many applications, is easy to handle, will allow floor 
and wall covering to be cut cleanly and accurately to size, and may also 
be used to provide a smooth base for the covering. 
While only several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and 
described, it will be obvious to those persons of ordinary skill in the 
art that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without 
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.