Carpet securement strip and method of use thereof

Abstract

A carpet securement strip comprising a substrate ( 14 ) having gripper pins ( 13 ) and a projection component ( 12 ) of a touch and close system for securing a fibrous backing ( 18 ) of a carpet ( 26 ) to the substrate ( 14 ) at a height suitable for underlay ( 24 ) to lie between the carpet ( 26 ) and the floor ( 22 ) and a method of using such a strip for fitting a carpet ( 26 ) to a floor ( 22 ). A method of fitting a carpet ( 26 ) to floors, e.g. stairs, one step ( 50 ) at a time, using the carpet securement strips The gripper pins 13 prevent early engagement of the fibrous backing ( 18 ) of the carpet ( 26 ) with the projection component ( 12 ) of the carpet securement strip.

1 . A carpet securement strip comprising an elongate substrate having a first planar surface for contact with the floor and a second planar surface substantially parallel to the first surface, which second surface carries gripper pins and a projection component of a touch and close system.  
     
     
         2 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 1 , wherein the projection component is provided with strips of different projection densities extending along the length of the carpet securement strip.  
     
     
         3 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 2 , wherein the projection density of the projection component is graduated across the width of the material.  
     
     
         4 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 2 , wherein a first strip of the projection component has a projection density higher than a second strip.  
     
     
         5 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 4 , wherein the first strip of the projection component extends over between 50 and 75% of the width of the material.  
     
     
         6 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 4 , wherein the first strip of the projection component has a projection density of more than 80 projections per cm 2 .  
     
     
         7 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 4 , wherein the second strip of the projection component has a projection density of less than 70 projections per cm 2 .  
     
     
         8 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a generally rectangular cross section.  
     
     
         9 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 8 , wherein a chamfered edge is provided on the substrate.  
     
     
         10 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 9 , wherein the acute edge of the chamfer is rounded.  
     
     
         11 . A carpet according to  claim 4 , wherein the lowest density strip is adjacent the chamfered edge.  
     
     
         12 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a generally “C” section, the foot portion of the “C” being longer than the arm portion, the “C” section defining an open channel for receiving a carpet edge, the gripper pins and the projection component being provided on the channel facing surface of the foot portion.  
     
     
         13 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a generally “I” section, with the two feet portions being longer than the two arm portions, the “I” section defining two open channels each for receiving a carpet edge, the gripper pins and the projection component being provided on the channel facing surface of each of the foot portions.  
     
     
         14 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 1 , wherein the projection component is integrally formed with the substrate.  
     
     
         15 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 1 , wherein the projection component is laminated onto the substrate.  
     
     
         16 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 1 , formed by extrusion, embossing or moulding of the projection component.  
     
     
         17 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is formed of a stiff material, such as metal, plastics, fibreglass, or composites thereof.  
     
     
         18 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a substantially hollow section.  
     
     
         19 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is formed from wood.  
     
     
         20 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 1 , wherein nails are provided in the substrate for securing the substrate to a floor.  
     
     
         21 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is provided with external grooves in the first planar surface.  
     
     
         22 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 1 , wherein the projection component has mushroom type projections.  
     
     
         23 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 1 , wherein the projection component has a projection density between 25 and 400 projections per cm 2 .  
     
     
         24 . A carpet securement strip according to  claim 1 , wherein the combined thickness of the substrate, any adhesive and a base of the projection component has substantially the same thickness as the underlay to be used.  
     
     
         25 . A method for fitting a carpet with a fibrous backing to a floor, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing the carpet securement strip of any preceding claim, and a carpet with a fibrous backing;    affixing the carpet securement strip to a floor;    laying the carpet onto the floor over the carpet securement strip; and    pressing the carpet, and hence the fibrous backing, into engagement with the gripper pins and the projection component on the carpet securement strip.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the carpet is fitted with underlay between the carpet and the floor.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the floor is stair treads and risers.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein two pieces of carpet securement strip are used per step of the stairs.