Apparatus and methods for imparting grouted edge appearance to floor coverings modules during installation

Abstract

Device for imparting a “grouted edge” appearance to the face of a floor covering during the installation process. A hot air gun is mounted on a carriage that rests on the face of a field-cut flooring module or tile. The carriage is moved across the face of the module while a guide or guides attached to the carriage and contacting an edge of the tile maintain the lateral position of the hot air gun adjacent to the module edge so that a “grouted edge” appearance is produced.

1 . Apparatus for treating floor covering, comprising: 
 (a) an energy source, and    (b) structure for supporting the energy source and contacting the floor covering while moving the energy source and floor covering relative to each other in a predetermined relationship during treatment of the floor covering with the energy source.    
     
     
         2 . Apparatus for use during installation of floor covering for treating a portion of a face of the floor covering proximate an edge of the floor covering to change the appearance of the floor covering in the treated portion, the apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a heat source,    (b) structure on which the heat source is mounted for maintaining a desired relationship between the heat source and the floor covering during treatment of the floor covering.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of    claim 2   , wherein the heat source is a hot air gun.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of    claim 2   , wherein the mounting structure comprises a frame to which the heat source is attached and at least one guide for contact with an edge of the floor covering.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of    claim 4   , wherein the mounting structure further comprises at least one roller for contact with the face of the floor covering.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of    claim 5   , wherein the guide further comprises at least one rotating member.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of    claim 6   , wherein the guide comprises two arms projecting from the frame on opposite sides of the heat source, and the at least one rotating member comprises two rotating members, one of which is attached to each of the two arms.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of    claim 4   , wherein the frame is adjustable to vary the position of the heat source relative to the floor covering.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of    claim 4   , wherein the frame further comprises a heat source holder to which the heat source is attached and a frame stanchion to which the heat source holder is adjustable attached so that the holder can be positioned in a plurality of distances from the floor covering.  
     
     
         10 . Apparatus for treating a portion of a face of floor covering proximate an edge of the floor covering to change the appearance of the floor covering in the treated portion by heating, the apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a base,    (b) a plurality of rollers attached to the base for contact with the face of the floor covering during use of the apparatus,    (c) two guide arms attached to the base and two guide bearings for contact with an edge of the floor covering during use of the apparatus, one of which guide bearings is attached to each guide arm, and    (d) a hot air gun attached to a hot air gun mount adjustably attached to the base so that the distance of the hot air gun from the face of the floor covering during use of the apparatus may be adjusted.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of    claim 10   , wherein the guide bearings are guide rollers.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of    claim 10   , wherein the positions of the guide bearings relative to the base are adjustable so that the position of the hot air gun relative to the edge of the floor covering during use of the apparatus is adjustable.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of    claim 12   , wherein the projection of the arms from the base is adjustable.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of    claim 14   , wherein the plurality of rollers comprises two rollers.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of    claim 2   , further comprising at least one handle attached to the structure for manipulating the apparatus during use.  
     
     
         16 . A method for changing the appearance of a portion of the face of floor covering during installation of the floor covering, comprising: 
 (a) positioning a hot air gun mounted on a carriage proximate an edge of the floor covering,    (b) with the hot air gun on, moving the hot air gun across the face of the floor covering along the edge to heat the portion of the face of the floor covering adjacent to the edge to change the appearance of the portion while maintaining contact between first reference structure of the carriage and the face of the floor covering and between second reference structure of the carriage and the edge of the floor covering.    
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 16   , wherein the first reference structure comprises a plurality of rollers.  
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 16   , wherein the second reference structure comprises rotatable bearings.  
     
     
         19 . A method of installing, on a building floor, floor covering modules having a “grouted edge” appearance, comprising: 
 (a) installing on the building floor modules that can be positioned thereon without cutting the modules,  
 (b) cutting modules to sizes necessary to complete covering of the building floor after installation of the un-cut modules, and  
 (c) positioning a hot air gun mounted on a carriage proximate an edge of each cut module where a “grouted edge” appearance is desired, and, with the hot air gun on, moving the hot air gun across the face of the floor covering module along the edge to heat the portion of the face of the floor covering adjacent to the edge to change the appearance of the portion while maintaining contact between first reference structure of the carriage and the face of the floor covering and between second reference structure of the carriage and the edge of the floor covering.  
 
     
     
         20 . The method of    claim 18   , further comprising: 
 (d) installing each field-cut module on the building floor in the position for which such module was cut.