Floor laying tool

Abstract

A tool for installing tongue and groove flooring, such as laminate flooring planks, over a floor underlayment. The tool includes a pair of identical blocks. Each block has opposing first and second planar surfaces that are parallel to each other, a bottom edge, first and second end edges substantially perpendicular to the bottom edge, and an angled top edge. The bottom edge contains two longitudinal grooves, each groove being parallel to the adjacent planar surface. The grooves are of a size and shape adapted to receive the tongue of the tongue and groove flooring to be installed. Holes pass through the block for receiving removable fasteners which are secured to the floor underlayment during use. The process of using the tool includes placing glue into the groove of a new flooring plank to be installed. The tongues of the two adjacent, already installed planks to which the new plank is to be joined are inserted into the glued groove of the new plank. A first block is placed adjacent the new plank with the tongue of the new plank inserted into the adjacent groove located in the bottom edge of the first block. A second block is placed adjacent the first block with the angled top edges of the two blocks in contact with each other and the end edges of the two blocks being substantially in alignment. Removable fasteners, such as nails, are inserted into the holes of the second block and secured to the floor underlayment. The larger end edge of the first block is then tapped to wedge the first block tightly against the new panel. After the glue has set, the first block is removed by tapping against the smaller end edge until the first block no longer engages the second block. The second block is then removed by removing the removable fasteners from the floor underlayment.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tool for installing tongue and groove flooring planks on a floor underlayment, said planks having upper and lower planar surfaces, comprising: 
 first and second identical blocks, each said block including: 
 opposing first and second planar surfaces, said first and second planar surfaces being parallel to each other, a bottom edge, first and second end edges substantially perpendicular to said bottom edge, the length of said first end edge being less than the length of said second end edge, and an angled top edge extending between said first and second end edges;  
 first and second longitudinal grooves in said bottom edge adjacent said first and second planar surfaces, respectively, said first and second longitudinal grooves being parallel to said planar surfaces and to each other, each of said first and second longitudinal grooves having a width and depth adapted to fully and slidingly engage said tongue of said flooring plank, the centerline of said first and second longitudinal grooves being spaced from its respective adjacent planar surface a distance substantially the same as the distance between the centerline of said tongue and said lower planar surface of said flooring plank;  
 at least two holes passing through each of said blocks;  
   said first block adapted to be positioned adjacent a flooring plank to be installed with said tongue of said plank inserted into one of said grooves in sliding engagement therewith, said second block adapted to be placed adjacent said first block with the angled top edge of said first block in contact with the angled top edge of said second block and with the end edges of said first and second blocks being substantially in alignment, said holes in said second block being adapted to receive a removable fastener for securing said second block to said floor underlayment.    
     
     
         2 . A block adapted to be used with a second identical block for installing tongue and groove flooring planks on a floor underlayment, said planks having upper and lower planar surfaces, said block comprising: 
 opposing first and second planar surfaces, said first and second planar surfaces being parallel to each other, a bottom edge, first and second end edges substantially perpendicular to said bottom edge, the length of said first end edge being less than the length of said second end edge, and an angled top edge extending between said first and second end edges;    first and second longitudinal grooves in said bottom edge adjacent said first and second planar surfaces, respectively, said first and second longitudinal grooves being parallel to said planar surfaces and to each other, each of said first and second longitudinal grooves having a width and depth adapted to fully and slidingly engage said tongue of said flooring plank, the centerline of said first and second longitudinal grooves being spaced from its respective adjacent planar surface a distance substantially the same as the distance between the centerline of said tongue and said lower planar surface of said flooring plank; and    at least two holes passing through each of said blocks and adapted to receive a removable fastener.    
     
     
         3 . In the process of installing over a floor underlayment a new row of tongue and groove flooring planks to the bottom row of tongue and groove flooring planks already installed upon said floor underlayment, said planks in said bottom row having a tongue extending from the outer longitudinal edge thereof, inserting glue into the groove of the new plank to be installed, inserting the tongues of the adjacent already installed planks into the groove of the new plank, and permitting the glue to set, the improvement comprising: 
 placing the bottom edge of a first block of  claim 2  adjacent said tongue of one of said new planks and inserting said tongue into the adjacent longitudinal groove in said bottom edge of said first block;    placing a second block of  claim 2  adjacent said first block with the angled top edge of said first block in contact with the angled top edge of said second block and with said end edges of said first and second locks being substantially in alignment;    securing said second block to said floor underlayment by passing removable fasteners through said holes in said second block and securing said removable fasteners to said floor underlayment;    causing said second end edge of said first block to be moved in a direction towards said second end edge of said second block a distance adapted to force said groove of said new plank into tight engagement with the tongues of adjacent already laid planks;    leaving said first and second blocks in position for a time sufficient to allow said glue to set;    causing the first edge of said first block to be moved in a direction towards said first edge of said second block until said first block no longer tightly engages said new plank; and    removing the removable fasteners holding said second block to said floor underlayment.