Patent Publication Number: US-2013236676-A1

Title: Apparatus and method for protecting a floor and baseboard

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates, in one embodiment, to the protection of hallway floors and baseboards from damage while moving large objects through the hallway. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When a construction or renovation project is undertaken in a commercial building, office building or residential home, the work performed during the project may cause damage to the floors, baseboards and walls of the building. For example, when a homeowner moves into a new home, major pieces of furniture and equipment (sofa, beds, televisions) are often carried by movers through narrow hallways to place the furniture and equipment at a desired location. Likewise, during renovation of one more rooms or offices, construction workers may have to traverse halls and corridors to carry building supplies and equipment to the renovation site. During this process floors, baseboards and walls of the hallways may be scratched, nicked or otherwise damaged. 
     Protective flat mats or cloths are often placed on the floor of the hallway to protect the floor and/or carpet but these to little to protect the baseboards. That often requires the contractor to repair and repaint the baseboards and perhaps entire walls if the lower portions of the wall are damaged. Therefore, a mechanism is desired for protecting the baseboard from damage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed in this specification is a system for protecting floors and baseboards. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, a protective cover is disclosed. The protective cover comprises a central, rigid panel with an upper surface and first and second baseboard protectors flexibly attached thereto. 
     In a second exemplary embodiment, a protective cover is disclosed that is comprised of a central panel of rigid hardboard with an upper surface. First and second baseboard protectors, formed of cardboard, are flexibly attached thereto. 
     In a third exemplary embodiment, a method for protecting baseboards is disclosed. A protective cover is placed on a floor such that a central panel of rigid hardboard contacts the floor, the central panel having an upper surface facing upwards. The protective cover includes first and second baseboard protectors, formed of cardboard, that are flexibly attached to the central panel. These baseboard protectors are permitted to be disposed over the baseboards of the hallway to provide protection. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary protective cover disposed in a hallway; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the top of an exemplary protective cover; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the bottom of the protective cover of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the top of the protective cover of  FIG. 2  shown in a partially folded configuration; and 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are profile views of the protective cover showing positioning in two hallways of different sizes. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The examples set out herein illustrate several embodiments of the invention but should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of protective cover  100  for protecting a hallway  102  with walls  104 . Protective cover  100  protects the floor  108 , two flanking baseboards  106  and, in certain embodiments, a portion of walls  104  from damage and/or debris. 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of protective cover  100 . Protective cover  100  comprises an elongated central panel  200  with an upper surface  202 . In one embodiment, upper surface  202  is smooth to promote objects (e.g. furniture, appliances, etc) sliding or rolling on hand trucks along its surface. Central panel  200 , in one embodiment, is formed of a rigid material such as plywood, particle board, hard board, fiber board, insulating board, composite board, construction board and synthetic or artificial lumber. Central panel  200  includes first and second elongated edges,  204 ,  206  which traverse the length of the central panel  200 . Flexibly attached to first and second elongated edges,  204 ,  206  are first and second baseboard protectors  208 ,  212 , respectively. First and second baseboard protectors  208 ,  212  are joined to the central panel  200  at first and second proximal edges  210  and  214  by, for example, flexible tape, hinges, or other suitable means. Baseboard protectors  208 ,  212  are each formed, or covered with, a relatively soft material compared to central panel  200 . In one embodiment, baseboard protectors  208 ,  212  are formed of cardboard.  FIG. 3  depicts a bottom plan view of protective cover  100 . In one embodiment, bottom surface  300  is textured to provide a relatively high coefficient of friction, compared to upper surface  202 , which helps keep protective cover  100  in place on the floor after it has been properly positioned. In one embodiment, the bottom-side of first and second baseboard protectors  208 ,  212  include a strip of adhesive  302  along their distal edges. The strip of adhesive  302  may, for example, be adhesive tape that is covered by a release layer. Adhesive  302  helps the protective cover  100  adhere to the walls and helps prevent debris from contaminating the underlying floor. 
     In use, protective cover  100  is placed in a hallway such that bottom surface  300  contacts floor  108  while upper surface  202  is facing upwards to provide a surface upon which furniture can be slid. In those embodiments where bottom surface  300  has a relatively high coefficient of friction, it generally adheres to floor  108  (e.g. a carpeted hallway) and prevents protective cover  100  from sliding. Central panel  200  has a width selected to span the width of a variety of common hallways. In one embodiment, central panel  200  has a width of about two feet. For other applications, where hallways sizes may be different, other suitable widths are selected. 
     Baseboard protectors  208 ,  212  fold upwards toward upper surface  202  when their respective distal edges contact walls  104 . In this fashion, baseboards  106  and a portion of walls  104  are protected from impact as objects are moved across upper surface  202 . In one embodiment, adhesive  302  is present. In such an embodiment, the release layer is removed to reveal adhesive  302 . Adhesive  302  is thereafter placed against wall  104 . The adhesive may be a mild adhesive that readily releases from the baseboard or wall, such as the type of adhesive used for masking tape. This helps keep baseboard protectors  208 ,  212  properly positioned against the wall  104  as well as keeps the protective cover from traversing the length of the hallway  102  due to gradual creeping during use. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , each of the baseboard protectors  208 ,  212  has at least one area  400  separated by scores lines  402   a - c , about which the baseboard protectors  208 ,  212  may bend. Scores lines  402   a - c  may be on the bottom surface, the top surface, or both the bottom and top surface of baseboard protectors  208 ,  212 . By supplying several score lines at different distances along the baseboard protectors  208 ,  212 , small variations in hallway width may be accommodated. For example, in narrow hallways, the bend in the baseboard protector may occur at score line  402   a  while in wider hallways the bend may occur at score line  402   c.  See  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
       FIG. 4  depicts protective cover  100  in a partially folded configuration. In  FIG. 4 , first baseboard protector  208  has been folded about fold-line  404  atop central panel  200  while second baseboard protector  212  remains extended. Baseboard protectors  208 ,  212  have a width equal to or less than the width of central panel  200 . In the embodiment depicted, first baseboard  208  has a width of about two-thirds the width of central panel  200 . For example, when central panel  200  is three feet wide, each of the baseboards protectors  208 ,  212  may be two feet wide. In such an embodiment, the width of baseboard protectors  208 ,  210  extends to protect not only the baseboard, but also a portion of the wall. Areas  400  are provided at the distal end of the respective baseboards protectors  208 ,  212  which are, in one embodiment, two inches wide and traverse the length of the baseboards protectors  208 ,  212 . 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate the protective cover in two hallways of different sizes. In  FIG. 5A , which shows a relatively wide hallway, three areas  400  are flat against the floor and three areas  400  curve upward against the wall. In  FIG. 5B , when shows a relatively narrow hallway, central panel  200  is flat again the floor and six areas  600  curve upward against the wall. In a hallway with a width between that shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , select smaller areas  400  may rest flat against the floor with a bend occurring along one of the score lines as described above. 
     The above embodiments show relatively narrow protector strips that are wide enough to cover at least the baseboards on opposite sides of the hall. However, the invention also contemplates wider strips that would cover at least the lower portion of the wall. The embodiment with wider strips would protect the lower portion of the wall from accidental impacts of hand trucks, equipment, furniture and tools. In addition, any debris impacting the wall would be channeled by the wider protector strips to fall onto the center panel. 
     In use, several protective covers  100  may be used to span the length of a complete hallway. For example, several protective covers  100  may be laid in series (end-to-end) to provide a continuous surface for sliding furniture along while the corresponding baseboards are protected. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof to adapt to particular situations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For example, the cardboard protector strips are envisioned as flat, elongated sheets with longitudinal score on their bottom surface to permit the user to arrange the strips up to and over the baseboards. In an alternate embodiment the cardboard could have an accordion-like fold so that it could be extended and positioned over the baseboards. Cardboard is one material for the protector strips, but other materials could be substituted, including and not limited to durable poster board and other suitable materials. Therefore, it is intended that the claims not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the claims will include all embodiments falling within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.