Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates generally to tools for assisting in flooring installation and, more specifically, to a Carpet Seam Press.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    A critical component of the installation process for conventional carpeting (and other sheet-type flooring) involves the completion of a seam between two adjoining sections or sheets of carpet (or other flooring). Sections of carpet are joined together where one section, by itself, is insufficient to cover the entire floor space of a particular room or series of rooms. In such cases, two carpet sections are typically joined by a seam in some inconspicuous place, such as in a doorway or archway. Although the location of the seam can assist in hiding it from being detected, it is also important that the patterns of the two sheets of carpet match, and also that the seam is extremely flat and smooth. If we turn to FIG. 1, we can examine how the conventional seaming process is implemented.  
           [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the conventional carpet seaming process. As shown, a first carpet section  10  and a second carpet section  12  are joined together to form a seam  14  between the two. The seam  14  is generally created by placing segments  10  and  12  in close alignment, such that the edges  16  and  18  of the sections  10  and  12  are touching each other along their lengths. Beneath the edges  16  and  18  (placed there prior to the edges being carefully aligned) is a length of seam tape  20 . The seam tape  20  is made from a material that, when pressed by a heated tool, will melt and/or otherwise adhere the two sections  10  and  12  together, forming a smooth seam  14 . Although it is also possible that the sections  10  and  12  will also be sown together, in these cases, the seam  14  will first be formed with the seam tape  20 , and then be sown.  
           [0006]    In order to cause the seam tape  20  to adhere the two sections  10  and  12  together, it is common for the installation person to use a conventional clothes iron  22 . The iron  22  will typically include an electric cord  24  that is plugged into a wall socket or extension cord (not shown), until it reaches the desired temperature. Next, the iron  22  is slipped under the edges  16  and  18  and onto seam tape  20 , and held there until the seam tape  20  reacts to become sticky. Once a particular section of tape  20  becomes sticky, the iron  22  is moved to the next section; when the iron  22  is moved, the two edges  16  and  18  drop onto the sticky seam tape  20 , where they are bonded (once the tape  20  cools). The iron  22  is then slowly slid down the length of the edges  16  and  18  of the sections  10  and  12  until the entire seam  14  is formed.  
           [0007]    In order to prevent the edges  16  and  18  from curling up after the seam tape  20  has begun bonding and the iron  22  has been slid to the next portion to be seamed, the installation person will many times use some weighted object to briefly press and hold down the edges  16  and  18  until such time as the seam tape  20  cools enough to make the seam  14  complete. Frequently the weighted object that the installation person chooses to use is a masonry brick wrapped in a protective sheet, such as aluminum foil or plastic wrap. The problem with this approach is that the wrapped brick tends to heat up with continued use, making it less and less effective at cooling the seam down quickly. What is needed is a seam pressing device that actually assists in cooling down the carpet seam  14  during the seaming process.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices and methods, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Carpet Seam Press. It is a further object that the press include means for cooling and pressing a recently-formed seam between two adjoining sections of carpet. The press should further include a light projecting from at least one end for illuminating confined work areas. Still further, it is an object that the press include a bottom plate having several small holes formed in it and fans for forcing air through those holes and onto the seam being pressed and cooled. It is a further object that the press provide an electrical convenience outlet to eliminate the need for more than a single extension cord.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the conventional carpet seaming process;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the carpet seaming process of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the control panel end of the seam press of FIG. 2;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lamp end of the seam press of FIGS. 2 and 3; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the seam press of FIGS.  2 - 4 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]    The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Carpet Seam Press.  
         [0016]    The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the carpet seaming process of the present invention. One change from the prior process to that process depicted here is the addition of the carpet seam press  26 . The seam press  26  is designed to be pressed onto the heated seam  14  between the two carpet sections  10  and  12 ; the press  26  will briefly press the edges  16  and  18  down onto the seam tape  20 , while simultaneously cooling the seam  14 . As the seam press  26  is moved along behind the iron  22 , it will create a tight, well-bonded seam.  
         [0017]    As is also depicted in FIG. 2 (and discussed further below in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4), is another unique aspect of the press  26 ; its integrated convenience outlet (not shown). The convenience outlet is an outlet configured to accept a conventional 120VAC plug; it is powered by the same power source that provides power for the press  26 . The convenience outlet provides the user with the ability to plug the iron  22  directly into it, rather than to a wall socket and/or extension cord. As a result, the user need only provide power in one place (to the press  26 ), rather than two; this will serve to minimize the number of cords passing across the carpet work area, thereby minimizing their interference with work progress. If we now turn to FIG. 3, we can examine the seaming press  26  in more detail.  
         [0018]    A preferred embodiment of the seaming press  26  of the present invention is displayed in the perspective view shown in FIG. 3. The press  26  comprises a housing  30 , defined by a control end  32  and a lamp end  34 . In this example, the control end  32  includes a control panel  36  for operating the electrical components of the press  26 , and from which extends the electrical power cord  28 . Disbursed across the face of the control panel  36  are also found a convenience electrical outlet  38 , such as for plugging the iron (see FIG. 2) into. As discussed above in connection with FIG. 2, this convenience outlet  38  enables the installation person to only locate a single remote power source; by plugging the iron (see FIG. 2) into the outlet  38 , the iron&#39;s cord is kept close at hand, rather than being extended across the room and/or work surface.  
         [0019]    Also found on the control panel  36  are a light switch  40  for operating the internal work light that will be discussed further below in connection with subsequent figures. Further found on the control panel  36  is a fan switch  42  for operating the two cooling fans  44  and  46  that are disposed on the top surface of the housing  30 . The cooling fans  44  and  46  will preferably provide downward airflow into the housing  30 , such that a positive pressure is created therein. The air will flow through the internal volume of the housing and out through a plurality of apertures formed in the bottom plate  50  of the press  26 ; further detail of this feature is provided below in connection with subsequent drawing figures. The fan switch permits the user to turn the fans  44  and  46  on and off while leaving the press  26  (and the iron plugged into the outlet  38 ) plugged in to the electrical power source. As was discussed above in connection with FIG. 2, the press  26  is slid by the user along the recently-formed carpet seam behind the seaming iron; this is facilitated by the handle  48  extending upwardly from the housing  30 . If we now turn to FIG. 4, we can examine further detail regarding the press  26  of the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the seam press  26  of FIGS. 2 and 3. In this view, the detail of the lamp end  34  of the press  26  is shown. Disbursed on the lamp end  34  is one or more work lamps  52 , or other lighting devices. The lamp  52  is provided to give the user additional lighting upon the seam area, such as when the user is creating a seam in a confined and/or poorly lighted area. In order to operate the light, the user need simply to switch on or off the light switch (see FIG. 3) when additional light is or is not needed. Now turning to FIG. 5, we can discuss additional structure features of this particular press  26  design.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the seam press of FIGS.  2 - 4 . It should be understood that the shape and composition of the elements shown here are only those necessary for assembling the embodiment shown in the previous FIGS.  2 - 4 . As shown, the housing  30  comprises a top plate  58  and a bottom plate  50 . The bottom plate  50 , very importantly, is preferably defined by several apertures or perforations across its face. These perforations  62  are provided to permit air flow entering through the cooling fans  44  and  46  to pass through the substantially hollow housing  30  and out through the bottom plate  50 . This constant flow of air out the perforations  62  will provide a substantial cooling effect in any area upon which the press  26  is placed (i.e. on a newly ironed seam), causing the seam to set (become hardened) more quickly than by simply allowing it to air cool. It might further be desired that the bottom plate  50  have its bottom surface coated with a non-stick material, in order that it resist sticking to the melted seam tape. In other embodiments, the bottom plate  50  might be constructed without perforations  62 , but might be made from some heat-sinking material and/or heat-sinking cross-section such that the air flow from the cooling fans  44  and  46  simply cool the bottom plate  50 ; the elimination of the perforations  62  would make the surface even more impervious to becoming soiled with glue or other materials.  
         [0022]    On each side of the housing  30  may be found side plates  56 , such as those shown for displaying trademark indicia and/or instructions thereon. Further shown is the lamp assembly  52  that is attached to the lamp end of the housing  30 . In this embodiment, the lamp assembly  52  is a single light that is configured to shine through an aperture formed in the end of the housing  30 ; other designs are conceived, including multiple lamps and/or surface-mounted designs.  
         [0023]    The cooling fans  44  and  46  are attached to the bottom side of the top plate  58  (which in turn attaches to the top of the housing  30 ). The fans  44  and  46  are positioned cooperatively to align with two like-sized holes formed in the top plate  58 , and over which are attached grill assemblies  60 . The grill assemblies  60  may further include filters for filtering out airborne contaminants; in this case, the grill assemblies  60  would be easily removable from the press  26 , such that filter maintenance might be performed.  
         [0024]    As also shown, the control panel  36  attaches to the control end of the housing  30 . The convenience outlet  38 , switches, and power cable  28  further extend therefrom. As a further added safety measure, a strain relief grommet  54  might be added to the power cable  28  in order to inhibit the possibility that the cable  28  might be inadvertently yanked out from the press  26  (such as if someone trips over it).  
         [0025]    Finally, the handle  48  will be configured to attach to either the top plate  58  or the housing  30 , depending upon the particular design and its aesthetic or utility particulars.  
         [0026]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.

Technology Category: 7