Carpet stretching tool and method for use therefore

Abstract

A carpet stretching tool comprised of a frame member and a head moving mechanism for attachment to the frame member to bias carpet towards a wall. The frame member of the invention comprises a pair of frame side members connected at one end by an engagement member, at the opposite end by a rear member and between the engagement member and the rear member, by a handle member. The head moving mechanism is attached to the rear frame member and comprises a carpet engaging head that is operable to extend and retract the head relative to the rear frame member and is permitted to slide laterally along the length of the rear frame member.

1 . A carpet stretching tool comprising:
 a frame member having a rear frame member; and   a head moving member slidingly attached to the rear frame member.   
     
     
         2 . The carpet stretching tool of  claim 1  wherein the frame member further comprises a plurality of gripping members attached to the rear frame member. 
     
     
         3 . The carpet stretching tool of  claim 1  wherein the frame member further comprises a pair of frame side members, the frame side members being attached at either end of the rear frame side member, each of the frame side members having at least one gripping member. 
     
     
         4 . The carpet stretching tool of  claim 1  wherein the frame member further comprises a handle member between the frame side members. 
     
     
         5 . The carpet stretching tool of  claim 1  wherein the frame member further comprises a connection shaft slidingly attached to the rear frame member. 
     
     
         6 . The carpet stretching tool of  claim 5  wherein the head moving member is attached to the rear frame member via the connection shaft and wherein the head moving member further comprises a head and the head moving member is operable to extend and retract the head relative to the frame member. 
     
     
         7 . The carpet stretching tool of  claim 6  wherein the head moving member further comprises an actuation lever rotatably connected to the head member and a slider link such that as the actuation lever is rotated downwardly towards the rear frame member the slider link moves the head member towards the engagement member and, to retract the head member, the actuation lever is rotated upwardly away from the rear frame member to retract the slider link into the attachment shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The carpet stretching tool of  claim 1  wherein the head member further comprises a handle. 
     
     
         9 . A carpet stretching tool comprising:
 a frame member comprising a pair of frame side members connected at one end by an engagement member, at the opposite end by a rear member and between the engagement member and the rear member by a handle member; and   a head moving mechanism attached to the rear frame member, the head moving mechanism comprising a head and being operable to extend and retract the head relative to the rear frame member and being permitted to slide laterally along the length of the rear frame member.   
     
     
         10 . The carpet stretching tool of  claim 9  wherein a plurality of gripping members are attached to the rear frame member. 
     
     
         11 . The carpet stretching tool of  claim 9  wherein the frame side members further comprise at least one gripping member. 
     
     
         12 . The carpet stretching tool of  claim 9  wherein the head moving member further comprises an actuation lever rotatably connected to the head member and a slider link such that as the actuation lever is rotated downwardly towards the rear frame member the slider link moves the head member towards the engagement member and, to retract the head member, the actuation lever is rotated upwardly away from the rear frame member to retract slider link into the attachment shaft. 
     
     
         13 . A method for installing carpet to a tack strip using a chisel and a carpet stretcher, the carpet stretcher comprising a frame member comprised of a pair of frame side members connected at opposite ends by an engagement member and a rear frame member, a head moving mechanism being attached to the rear frame member and being operable to move the head towards the engagement member, the method comprising the steps of:
 securing the engagement member of the carpet stretcher along the edge of a room;   engaging the head member with the carpet;   actuating the head moving mechanism to push the head and carpet towards the engagement member;   using the chisel to press the stretched carpet downwardly onto a tack strip;   disengaging the head moving mechanism from the carpet; and   sliding the head moving mechanism along the rear frame member to a new position.