Patent Publication Number: US-6669173-B1

Title: Dual purpose pneumatic floor covering device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of floor covering implements, more particularly to a dual purpose, pneumatically operated device for applying a taut and uniform floor covering, such as wood slats and carpeting. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a multi purpose device for laying a floor covering, such as wood slats and carpeting. In each case it is important to ensure a taut and uniform covering to enhance the appearance of the floor covering. Wood slats, such as interfitting, tongue and groove hard wood slats may be particularly difficult to lay as such slats may tend to be bowed from end to end. Floorboards provided with tongue and groove edges, or like mating edges, can be used to assemble a durable, high quality floor in a convenient and relatively simple manner. Tongue and groove floorboards generally fit together to form a joint in which a projecting rib on the edge of one board fits into the groove on the edge of another board. This type of interlocking joint aids in aligning the floorboards during assembly and also produces a strong, reliable union between the boards. 
     The floorboards may be assembled by gluing the floorboards together at the tongue and groove joint and/or by the use of a nailing gun to drive fasteners into the joint to the underlying floor substrate, typically plywood sheets. However, whatever the method of securing the floorboards, it is critical to ensure a straight alignment of the wood slats. Not only for the beauty of the newly laid floor covering, it is necessary to provide a tight seal at the joints to minimize damage to the floorboards from leaks, spillage and moisture. 
     In the early methods of laying such floorboards, technicians used a tapping block and hammer to ensure the alignment of wood slats. However, this often resulted in damage to the joints. As a result, the prior art developed different systems, such as gripping devices, to avoid the damage. Certain of such prior art devices are described and illustrated in the following U.S. Patents: 
     a.) U.S. Pat. No. 6,370,836, to Gunn, teaches an apparatus for compressing floor boards where the apparatus comprises a first plate including a first edge gripping device for gripping an edge of a first floor board, and a compression biasing device such as a coil spring or bungee cord mounted on the first plate. A second plate includes a second edge gripping device for gripping an edge of a second floor board, and a strap clamp. A compression strap is joined at its proximal end with the biasing device and extends, in parallel juxta position to the first and second floor boards, for terminating, and removably engaging the strap clamp, such that the biasing device causes the first and second plates to draw the first and second floor boards, as well as any intermediate boards, into compression. 
     b.) U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,705, to Sutton, relates to a floor installation clamp comprising a clamp used for joining floorboards. The clamp includes a tension member with a first end and a second end. The tension member is connectable to opposing counterstays. One or both counterstays of the clamp may comprise suction devices removably attachable floorboard surfaces. Alternatively, the opposing counterstay may comprise an end piece that is removably attachable to a floorboard edge. 
     c.) U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,221, to Muhlebach et al., discloses a multi-part gripping device for pressing together flooring elements, such as laminates and finished parquet, in side-by-side relationship. The device includes two rod parts that are axially and telescopically connected, one of said rod parts including a pressure jaw at an end having parallel shoulders that extend toward the other rod part, the shoulders being at a different spacing from the associated rod part for abutting a base portion of a flooring element over which the gripping device is positioned. A longitudinally adjustable lead screw is pivotally connected between the two rod parts for moving the two rod parts together, such that a connecting pressure is applied to a flooring element being interconnectably positioned adjacent one or more previously positioned flooring elements. 
     d.) U.S. Pat. No. 1,094,449, to Lauri, describes a slat straightening tool that includes a manually operated cylinder having a pair of reversely threaded rods within the cylinder, where the cylinder contains a series of openings for receiving a removably inserted lever to turn the cylinder and either axially extend or retract the pressure applying rods. 
     The foregoing prior art systems offer some assistance in securing wood slats over a subfloor, but none offer the versatility of the present invention in providing a pneumatic device that can be used for both laying and straightening wood slats, such as hard wood slats, and carpeting, where a taut and uniform floor covering is critical to an aesthetically pleasing floor covering. The dual functioning device hereof will become more apparent in the description which follows, especially when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention teaches a dual functioning device for laying a taut and uniform floor covering, particularly wood slats and carpeting. The device, as later described, can be used without modification for either wood slats or carpeting by merely reversely orienting the device. In either case, the device comprises a housing mounting a pneumatic cylinder that provides the axial driving force in straightening a bowed wood slat, or in stretching and maintaing taut a carpeting section. A first end of the housing includes a pivotal gripping member mounting for removably contacting a subfloor, or for digging into the carpeting knap to stretch the carpeting. The opposite end of the housing mounts a T-shaped plate, at the end of the axially movable piston rod, for applying pressure to a bowed slat or restraining member, such as a wall or 2×4 boards between the device and a fixed wall. 
     Accordingly, a feature of the invention is a dual functioning device for laying a floor covering, such as wood slats and carpeting. 
     Another feature hereof is the provision of the use of a pneumatic cylinder for applying pressure in the starightening of a bowed wood slat, or in stretching and maintaining taut a carpeting section. 
     Still a further feature of the invention lies in the use of a pivotal gripping member for moving between operative and inoperative positions. 
     These and other features of the invention will become more apparent in the further description which follows, especially when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top/front perspective view of the dual purpose, pneumatically operated device for rendering a floor covering taut and uniform according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top/rear perspective view of the device of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the device of FIG. 2 with portions removed to reveal internal details of the pneumatic cylinder of the device. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the invention device hereof. 
     FIG. 5 is a top/rear perspective, similar to FIG. 2, showing an alternative anchoring means, specially a series of suction cups, for removably anchoring the device hereof to a flat subfloor. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention is directed to a dual functioning floor laying device that has particular utility in straightening wood slat, that typically may reveal a bow throughout its length, and to laying and stretching carpeting. The dual functioning device will now be described with regard to the accompanying drawings, where like reference numerals represent like components or features throughout the several views. 
     Turning first to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4, illustrating various views of the device  10 , the Figures show a housing support  12  consisting of a pair of end members  14 ,  14 ′, where the respective end members feature a planar base  15  to be supported on a subfloor, and plural rod supports  16  extending between the end members  14 ,  14 ′. The housing support  12  mounts a pneumatic cylinder  16 ′ capable of applying an axial pressure by piston  17  with a sealing O-ring  19  along piston rod  18  extending through end member  14 , see in particular FIG.  3 . In support of the operating pneumatic cylinder  16 , the device includes an air intake line  20 , an air exhaust valve  21 , communicating with the cylinder through piping  22 , an air pressure gauge  24 , an operating ON/OFF switch  25 , and air pump  27  with electrical power connection  29  for powering by a generator or structure current, see FIG.  4 . 
     Mounted to the end member  14 ′, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, is a pivotal gripping member  26 , where the gripping member is shown in the inoperative mode. The gripping member  26  comprises a fixed element, or preferably a pair of spaced apart elements  28 , secured to the outer wall  30  of end member  14 ′, where the one or a pair of elements  28  includes an opening for receiving a pivot pin  32 . Mounted for pivotal movement on said pin  32 , relative to said elements  28 , is an extension member  34 . The extension member  34  features a flat outer face  36  to which may be secured a planar gripping plate  38 , as more fully discussed later. 
     The opposite end of the device  10 , in pressure applying relationship with the piston rod  18 , is a T-shaped member  40  that comprises a base  42  and a laterally extending plate  44 , where the base  42  is the component for contacting the bowed slats in laying a hard wood floor composed of plural slats laid side by side. 
     Returning to the opposite end of the device, specifically the pivotal gripping member  26 , the member is provided with an array of gripping teeth  46  (FIGS.  2 - 4 ), that are mounted to a base plate  48  which in turn is bolted to the outer face  36  of gripping member  26 , such as by threaded fasteners  50 , as known in the art. In operation, the device  10  may be positioned in contact with the wood slat upon which the operation is to take place, then the gripping member  26  is pivoted to bring the gripping teeth  46  into holding contact with the subfloor. Thereafter, the pneumatic cylinder is activated to axially drive the piston rod  18  and T-shaped member  40  toward and against the wood slat. As the wood slat is held in a straightened position, it may be anchored to the adjoining wood slat or subfloor. 
     A unique facet of this invention is its ability to function in straightening wood slats, as discussed above, or in stretching and maintaining taut a carpeting section. To do the latter, the device  10  is reversely oriented. In laying carpet, a reversely oriented tacking strip is nailed to the floor subfloor with plural tacks extending upward for engaging and holding the carpet base. The carpet is initially secured to the tacking strip, but then the carpet must be stretched across the room to a tacking strip adjacent the opposite wall. The problem is to get the carpeting stretched between the opposing walls. With the present device, the gripping member  26  is pivoted into contact with the carpet knap for applying a stretching pressure to the carpet, while the T-shaped member  40  is restrained by a wall or against an intervening member, such as a pair of 2×4 boards between the device  10  and a wall. As an alternative to a fixed length intervening member, it may be desirable to use an adjustable length support. Such adjustable support member may be a light weight, telescopic tubing mechanism. For example, the mechanism may comprise several, i.e. three, sections that may be extended over selected lengths that uses a spring catch, as known in the art, to fix the mechanism at the desired length. In all cases, the carpeting section is stretched into a taut and uniform manner. 
     Often a new flooring system must be laid onto a subfloor that is not amenable to gripping by the gripping teeth  46  extending from the base plate  48 , such as a concrete slab, smooth slate or other similar surface. In such a case, the gripping teeth may be replaced by a series of suction cups  52  (FIG.  5 ), mounted to a base plate  54 . The base plate  54  may be removably secured to the outer face  36  by means of fastening members  56 . To operate, the gripping member  26  is merely pivoted into contact with the smooth floor and operated in the manner discussed above. 
     It is recognized that changes, variations and modifications may be made to the dual purpose pneumatic floor covering device of this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, no limitation is intended to be imposed on the invention except as set forth in the accompanying claims.