Apparatus for Stretching Carpet

Abstract

A carpet stretching apparatus is provided. The apparatus can comprise a rail having a fixed pin block operatively disposed at one end thereof, with the pin block configured with a plurality of pins configured to engage the backing of the carpet thereby enabling the pin block to grip or otherwise releasably attach to the carpet. The apparatus can further comprise a travelling mechanism disposed on the rail, the mechanism further comprising a second pin block disposed thereon that can work in cooperation with the fixed pin block. When the travelling mechanism is operated, the pin blocks work in cooperation to stretch or move the carpet.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a) a longitudinal rail having first and second ends;   b) a first bracket disposed on the first end, and a second bracket disposed on the second end;   c) a first pin block foot disposed on the first bracket, the first pin block configured to grip a first patch of carpet;   d) a travelling module operatively disposed on the rail, the travelling module further comprising means for moving the travelling module along the rail; and   e) a second pin block foot disposed on the travelling module, the second pin block configured to grip a second patch of carpet wherein operating the moving means causes the second pin block foot to move the second patch of carpet relative to the first patch of carpet.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a tail blade that can be releasably attached to the second bracket, the tail blade configured to hold on to a tack strip. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one support rod operatively disposed between the first and second brackets and substantially parallel to the rail. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the travelling module further comprises a housing disposed thereon, the housing further configured to move along the at least one support rod. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the housing further comprises at least one rod passageway configured to have the at least one support rod pass therethrough. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a) an extension tube further comprising a third pin block foot disposed thereon; and   b) attachment means disposed on the housing for releasably attaching the extension tube to the housing.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the third pin block foot further comprises a backstop configured to be releasably and pivotally attached to the extension tube. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pin block feet further comprises at least one removable pin block. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one pin block further comprises:
 a) a parallelepiped baseblock having a bottom surface, the baseblock configured to attaching to at least one of the pin block feet;   b) a plurality of pin supports, each pin support extending downwardly a predetermined distance from the bottom surface to form an end surface configured for contacting a carpet backing, each pin support defining a longitudinal axis and configured to support a pin; and   c) a pin substantially centered in each pin support and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pin support, each pin having a pin tip protruding downwardly a predetermined distance from the end surface, the length of the tip selected such that the pin tip will not extend through the carpet backing when the end surface is in contact with the carpet backing.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one pin block further comprises two parallel side surfaces that extend upwardly from and intersect with the bottom surface, one the two side surfaces comprising a protrusion, the other of the two side surfaces comprising a recess wherein the protrusion of one pin block will releasably interlock with the recess of another pin block thereby permitting a plurality of pin blocks to be releasably interlocked together to form a ganged pin block with all pin blocks having their bottom surfaces in alignment with each other. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the travelling module further comprises a travelling mechanism of a bar clamp/spreader. 
     
     
         12 . A carpet installation tool, comprising:
 a) a longitudinal rail having first and second ends;   b) a first bracket disposed on the first end, and a second bracket disposed on the second end;   c) a first pin block foot disposed on the first bracket, the first pin block configured to grip a first patch of carpet;   d) a travelling module operatively disposed on the rail, the travelling module further comprising means for moving the travelling module along the rail; and   e) a second pin block foot disposed on the travelling module, the second pin block configured to grip a second patch of carpet wherein operating the moving means causes the second pin block foot to move the second patch of carpet relative to the first patch of carpet.   
     
     
         13 . The tool as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising a tail blade that can be releasably attached to the second bracket, the tail blade configured to hold on to a tack strip. 
     
     
         14 . The tool as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising at least one support rod operatively disposed between the first and second brackets and substantially parallel to the rail. 
     
     
         15 . The tool as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the travelling module further comprises a housing disposed thereon, the housing further configured to move along the at least one support rod. 
     
     
         16 . The tool as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the housing further comprises at least one rod passageway configured to have the at least one support rod pass therethrough. 
     
     
         17 . The tool as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a) an extension tube further comprising a third pin block foot disposed thereon; and   b) attachment means disposed on the housing for releasably attaching the extension tube to the housing.   
     
     
         18 . The tool as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the third pin block foot further comprises a backstop configured to be releasably and pivotally attached to the extension tube. 
     
     
         19 . The tool as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the pin block feet further comprises at least one removable pin block. 
     
     
         20 . The tool as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the at least one pin block further comprises:
 a) a parallelepiped baseblock having a bottom surface, the baseblock configured to attaching to at least one of the pin block feet;   b) a plurality of pin supports, each pin support extending downwardly a predetermined distance from the bottom surface to form an end surface configured for contacting a carpet backing, each pin support defining a longitudinal axis and configured to support a pin; and   c) a pin substantially centered in each pin support and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pin support, each pin having a pin tip protruding downwardly a predetermined distance from the end surface, the length of the tip selected such that the pin tip will not extend through the carpet backing when the end surface is in contact with the carpet backing.   
     
     
         21 . The tool as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the at least one pin block further comprises two parallel side surfaces that extend upwardly from and intersect with the bottom surface, one the two side surfaces comprising a protrusion, the other of the two side surfaces comprising a recess wherein the protrusion of one pin block will releasably interlock with the recess of another pin block thereby permitting a plurality of pin blocks to be releasably interlocked together to form a ganged pin block with all pin blocks having their bottom surfaces in alignment with each other. 
     
     
         22 . The tool as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the travelling module further comprises a travelling mechanism of a bar clamp/spreader.