Abstract:
Spacers for a carpet sample board are described comprising two pieces, each with an outer flange to cover the hole cut in the sample board. The carpet sample board includes at least one spacer to prevent boards arranged in a binder or carrier from rubbing against or flattening the fabric of carpet samples on subsequent boards. The spacers are typically attached to the board by the mating of male and female members, where a male member is placed on the top surface of the board and penetrates the board through an aperture in the board. The male member is then coupled by a female member on the opposite surface of the board.

Description:
PRIORITY 
     The present invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/334,785 filed Jun. 16, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,390. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a handle for carpet sample boards and a spacer for separating the sample boards. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the carpet industry, it is necessary to show dealers and customers a wide variety of carpet samples due to the many different color, pattern, weight, yarn and tufting combinations that are available. One of the more popular methods of transporting and displaying carpet samples is by mounting the samples on a display board. These boards are typically eighteen inches wide and twenty-seven inches tall, made of one-fourth inch thick paper “chip board.” The board is laminated with a glossy printed advertisement and carpet swatches are glued or otherwise affixed to it. 
     Typical display boards can weigh as much as, or even in excess of, ten pounds. Sample boards typically have an oval hole punched near their top center for use as a handle. This “handle hole” can have sharp edges, tends to fray, and in general has an unprofessional and unfinished look. 
     Other options for transporting and displaying carpet samples have generally included: placing carpet sample boards in binder systems so that multiple sample pages can be carried and displayed in a book-like format; or attaching elaborate handle systems to the sample boards. 
     This has created a second problem with typical display systems in that rubbing occurs between the backs of the display boards and the carpet samples. Because of the vigorous use of display systems carpet samples become worn and take on a “used” appearance that is undesirable to the trader of such goods. In addition, pressure on the carpet pile when sample boards are stacked on one another causes the carpet to mat unattractively. 
     The present invention adapts the standard sample chip board with handle hole at very little cost or additional weight to create a finished appearance, prevent fraying around the hole, and eliminate the sharp handle edges. In addition, the invention includes spacers that separate carpet samples from the backs of display boards when using the display boards in a binder display system. The spacers prevent the carpet pile from being pressed flat. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A handle for carpet sample boards is provided by the present invention which can be installed in new sample boards and used to retrofit existing boards. The handle is provided by two identical grommet halves which meet in the handle hole and secure the chip board between them. The grommet halves are joined by a simple mechanical interlocking mechanism such as a male and female plug system. 
     The grommet halves are elegantly and economically formed to provide a finished appearance to the sample boards, to provide a comfortable handhold with no sharp edges, and to prevent fraying of the edges of the handle. 
     A spacer for carpet sample boards is also provided by the present invention where the spacing unit consists of two spacers each having a male and female member. The male member rests on the top surface of the board and mates with a female member on the opposite bottom surface. The spacer is designed to extend to a height above the board sufficient to clear the exposed carpet sample. The spacer unit typically consists of two spacers of identical construction where both spacers have male and female members. In this arrangement the spacers are arranged lengthwise on the sample board with a first spacer mounted on the upper portion of the sample board and a second spacer mounted on the lower portion of the sample board. The two spacers are arranged such that the female and male members of each spacer mate with the female and male members of the opposing spacer. This is accomplished by aligning the post section of the male member through an aperture positioned in the sample board. The apertures are arranged such that each post section for the two spacers align with the complimentary female member of the opposite spacer. The top surface of each spacer protects the surface of the carpet sample by preventing contact between the carpet sample and the next sample board in the binder. 
     A second arrangement uses a spacer unit formed of two pieces, the first with a male plug and the second with a female plug. The first male spacer piece contains a top surface for protecting the exposed carpet and a post section that extends through an aperture in the sample board. The second female spacer piece contains a hole for mating with the male spacer and mates or friction fits snugly to lock the spacer unit. Again, the top surface of the first male spacer extends sufficiently above the sample board to protect the surface of the carpet. In both male and female spacer constructions the spacer may contain lateral flange. Typically the top surface and the post section of the male spacer are separated by a lateral support. This arrangement is particularly advantageous because the user may easily remove or place a spacer unit with only one male-female connection and thereby evoke spacer points. Spacers built in this fashion do not need to extend a significant portion of the width of the sample board. Instead, small spacer units may be placed at both sides of the board, and economics realized in the quantity of molding compound used in spacer manufacture per sample board. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a grommet which comprises a part of the handle of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the grommet of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the grommet of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a left side plan view of the grommet of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the grommet of FIG. 1 taken along line A shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the grommet of FIG. 1 taken along line B shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a carpet sample board with lateral spacers showing an unfinished handhold. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of an assembled handle according to the present invention positioned through the hand hole of a sample board. 
     FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a lateral spacer used on carpet sample boards in conjunction with the handle of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a front plan view of the lateral spacer of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the lateral spacer taken along line A shown in FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the lateral spacer taken along line B shown in FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of the lateral spacer taken along line C shown in FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of the lateral spacer of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 15 is an exploded view of a carpet sample board utilizing the present handle invention and a lower lateral spacer. 
     FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of the male portion of a point spacer. 
     FIG. 17 is a bottom plan view of the male portion of FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view of the female portion of a point spacer. 
     FIG. 19 is a bottom plan view of the female portion of FIG.  18 . 
     FIG. 20 is an exploded view of a carpet sample board utilizing point spacer units and the type illustrated in FIGS.  16 - 19 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein the referenced numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the views. Reference to the preferred embodiment does not limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims following. 
     Referring initially to FIG. 8, across sectional view of handle  10  is shown comprised of two identical grommets  20 . FIGS. 1 through 6 show the grommets  20  in complete detail. 
     FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a grommet  20 . It will be seen that grommet  20  is comprised of a flange with bottom surface  22  and perimeter  33 . Interior of bottom flange surface is a concave arcuate surface  24  which terminates in lip  29 . Within the arcuate surface  24  and lip is defined a hand opening  32 . The grommet is preferably manufactured of injection molded plastic such as high impact polystyrene in a color that will not clash with the carpet sample boards, black and white being the preferred colors. The typical thickness of the flange and arcuate portions is about 0.05 inches. The hand opening  32  is preferably almost one inch in height and almost four inches in length. The concavity of arcuate surface  24  generally results in defining channel  30  except for a male plug, such as post  25 , at a first end  40  of the grommet  20  and a female plug, such as cylinder  27  defining opening  28 , at an opposite second end  41  of grommet  20 . In the illustrated construction, a solid wall  26  provides additional support to post  25 . 
     FIG. 2 shows a front view of grommet  20  and more clearly depicts post  25  which extends for approximately 0.4 inches below the bottom surface  22  of the flange area. FIG. 2 also shows the top arcuate surface  23  which extends approximately 0.3 inches above the top surface  21  of the flange defined within perimeter  33 . The interior lip  29  is shown extending about 0.15 inches beneath the bottom side  21  of the flange. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of grommet  20  showing the top flange surface  21  and the top arcuate surface  23  within which is defined the hand opening  32 . 
     FIG. 4 provides a side view. FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  shown in FIG.  3 . Because this cross section intersects the support wall  26 , channel  30  is not clearly visible. However, in FIG. 6, a sectional view taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 3 channel  30  can be clearly seen. 
     FIG. 7 demonstrates a typical carpet sample board  15  with lateral spacers  50 ,  50 , comprised of chip board  18 , glued on carpet sample  16  and hand hole  17 . FIG. 8 shows the installation of a handle  10  comprised of grommet halves  20  in hand hole  17 . It will be seen that the first end  40  containing a male plug such as post  25  of the bottom grommet  20  is positioned to interfit with the second end  41  containing a female plug such as hollow cylinder  27  of the top grommet. Both the lip portions  29  and the connecting post and cylinder structures  25 ,  27  are positioned within the hand hole  17  of chip board  18 . The bottom flange surfaces  22  sandwich the chip board  18  and cover all of the hand hole  17  punched through the board. The result is a comfortable handgrip defined by outer arcuate surfaces  23  of the mated grommets  20 . The result is to protect users&#39; hands from sharp edges of the chip board  18 , to prevent fraying of edges of the hand hole  17 , and for the flange surfaces  21  to cover any irregularities in the hand hole  17 . 
     FIGS. 9-14 disclose a lateral spacer  50  that is advantageously used in connection with carpet sample boards as shown in FIG.  7 . These lateral spacers  50  are also advantageously injection molded of high impact polystyrene and are preferably somewhat shorter than the width of the carpet sample boards upon which they are to be used. A typical spacer  50  length would be about fifteen inches. Lateral spacers  50  come in a variety of heights depending upon the carpet samples with which they are intended to be used. A typical spacer height is about one-half (½) inch, while a very thin carpet might suggest the use of a shorter spacer  50  and a deep carpet might suggest the use of a taller spacer  50 . Spacers  50  have a top surface  53 , a first side  51  and an opposed side  52 . Spacers  50  also have a bottom surface  54  which advantageously defines a hollow channel  60 . Within the channel  60  may be lateral supports to give spacer  50  structural stability. Preferably, one such support may be combined with a male plug such as post  55 , the solid section  56  near the post  55  comprising the lateral support structure. A support may also be combined with hollow cylinder  57  forming a hole  58  which acts as a female plug. In the spacer  50  shown the male plug is located toward a first end  61  and the female plug is toward the second end  62 . 
     FIG. 15 shows an exploded view of a carpet sample board according to the present invention. A chip board  18  is shown with hand hole  17  and apertures  45  for spacers  50 . A carpet sample  16  is affixed to face of chip board  18 . A pair of grommets  20  are mated through hand hole  17  with the first ends  40  of the respective grommets  20  rotated 180 degrees from one another so that the male post  25  of the upper grommet  20  is received in the hole  28  of the lower grommet  20  through the hand hole  17 . Similarly, the lateral upper spacer  50  is oriented with its first end  61  and plug  55  opposite the second end  62  and hole  58  of the lower spacer  50 . In this fashion the post  55  of each lateral spacer  50  is received in the hole  58  of its paired spacer  50  and the two lateral spacers are thereby joined about the chip board  18  to form an easily handled carpet sample board  15  with spacer  50  to protect carpet sample  16  from undue wear. 
     FIGS. 16-19 disclose an alternative to the lateral spacer  50  embodiment. This alternative, utilizes point spacer units  70 . Each point spacer unit  70  comprises a first male piece  72  and a second female piece  74 . As shown in FIG. 16, piece  72  has a cap portion formed by cylindrical wall  75  and top surface  53  with dimple  78 . A flange  49  protrudes from the bottom of cylindrical outer wall  75 . The cylindrical outer wall  78  typically extends to a height of between ⅜ and 1″ above the flange  49 . The bottom surface  54  of flange  49  is adopted to rest on board  18  and both to cover any irregularities in aperture  45 , shown in FIG. 20, and to stabilize the spacer unit  70  on the board  18 . Male piece  72  also has a male plug such as post  25  formed by cylindrical post wall  82  which encircles cylindrical channel  77  and extends downward substantially from the top surface  53  through the entire length of the post  25 . The post  25  will typically protrude between about one half to one inch as the post  25  must accommodate both the thickness of board  18  and also have sufficient additional length to be received within the female piece  74 . To avoid the unnecessary consumption of molding material, there is an empty circular channel  76  between cylindrical outer wall  75  and post wall  82 . 
     Second female piece  74 , shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, is similarly constructed with a cap portion of about ⅜ to 1″ in height formed by cylindrical outer wall  80  and top surface  53 , again with a molding dimple  78 . A flange  49  protrudes from the bottom of cylindrical outer wall  80 . The bottom surface  54  of flange  49  is adopted to be placed on a top or bottom surface of board  18 , shown in FIG. 20. A female plug in the form of hole  58  is defined by cylindrical inner wall  81  extending substantially between the bottom surface  54  of flange  49  to the top surface  53  of the cap portion. Between outer wall  80  and inner wall  81  is defined as circular void  79 , which results in the use of less molding compound and lighter weight than would a solid component. 
     FIG. 20 shows a partially exploded view of a carpet sample board  15  utilizing point spacer units  70 . Carpet sample board  15  comprises a chip board  18  with optional hand hole  17  and openings  45  for spacer units  70 . A carpet sample  16  is affixed to the face of chip board  18 . A pair of grommets  20  may be mated through hand hole  17  as previously described in connection with FIG.  15 . 
     Spacer units  70  may be utilized on boards  18  without grommets  20  or even a hand hole  17  in appropriate instances. At the end of sample board  15  adjacent to hand hole  17 , the first male pieces  72 ′ of spacer units  70  are shown in their fully mounted position. At the opposite end  19  of sample board  15 , two spacer units are shown in an exploded view. It can be seen that first male spacer pieces  72  are lowered toward sample board  15  so that the posts  25  are received through apertures  45  in board  18  and bottom flange surfaces  54  are flush with a first surface of board  18 . Second female spacer pieces  74  are then raised so that posts  25  are mated in holes  58  and bottom flange surfaces  54  of spacer pieces  74  are flush with a second opposite surface of board  18 . The fit between the male plug such as post  25  and female plug such as hole  58  is sufficiently snug or locking so that the two pieces  72 ,  74  of point spacer units  70  remain in position on board  18 . Preferably a pair of point spacer units  70  are mounted at least proximate the bottom edge of board  18 . Especially in the absence of a handle spacer such as grommets  20 , a second pair of spacer units  70  may also be effectively utilized along the upper edge of board  18 . 
     It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specifications.