US3748211A

US3748211A - Carpet tape dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3748211A
Application number: US00158417A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Hoopengardner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-06-30
Filing date: 1971-06-30
Publication date: 1973-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-24

Abstract

A DISPENSER FOR CARPET SEAMING TAPE DIMENSIONED FOR MOUNTING BETWEEN UPTURNED JUXTAPOSED EDGES OF ADJACENT CARPET SECTIONS TO BE SEAMED AND FORMED FOR DIRECTIONAL RELEASE OF TAPE PARALLEL TO SUCH EDGES; AND MEANS ON THE DISPENSER FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH AND FOR BEARING UPON THE UPTURNED CARPET EDGES FOR RETAINING THE DISPENSER CENTRALLY BETWEEN THE EDGES UPON DISPLACEMENT LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF THEREBY EFFECTING AUTOMATICALLY THE LAYING OF A STRIP OF TAPE CENTRALLY OF AND UNDERLYING THE CARPET EDGES TO BE SEAMED.

Description

y 1973 M. RJHOOPENGARDNER 3,748,211

CARPET TAPE DISPENSER Filed June 30, 1971 4 Sheets-S'neet 1 28 INVENTOR.

Merle R. Hoopengardner BY Map/cw, fzuh'w, mm

, uZUu/u'm Attorneys July 24, 1973 M. R. HOOPENGARDNER 3,743,211

CARPET TAPE DISPENSER Filed June 30, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Merle R. Hoopengardner BY Mia/yum. Mai L Attorneys y 1973 M. R. HOOPENGARDNER 3,743,211

CARPET TAPE DISPENSER Filed June so, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 135 INVENTOR.

- J 5/ v 236 5/ BY Merle R Hooeengardner F I 9 3M Via/mm /Lwckv) 1973 M. R. HOOPENGARDNER 3,748,211

CARPET TAPE DISPENSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 30, 1971 Fig. /2

Fig.

mvrswroa Merle R. Hoopengardner 1W E M M g CMMM Arzarneys United States Patent 3,748,211 CARPET TAPE DISPENSER Merle R. Hoopengardner, 2509 Myrtle St, Oakland, Calif. 94607 Filed June 30, 1971, Ser. No. 158,417 Int. Cl. B321) 31/04 US. Cl. 156-575 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A dispenser for carpet seaming tape dimensioned for mounting between upturned juxtaposed edges of adjacent carpet sections to be seamed and formed for directional release of tape parallel to such edges; and means on the dispenser for engagement with and for bearing upon the upturned carpet edges for retaining the dispenser centrally between the edges upon displacement longitudinally thereof thereby eifecting automatically the laying of a strip of tape centrally of and underlying the carpet edges to be seamed.

The invention relates to the carpet laying art and to the use of an adhesive tape for securing abutting edges of adjacent carpet sections.

In laying many types and grades of carpet, it has been increasingly popular in recent years to secure the abutting edges forming the seam between adjacent carpet sections by means of a tape placed under the seam and adhesively secured to the underside of the carpet. This tape will usually be about 3 /2 to 4 inches in width and is commonly made from a paper base, fiberglass or rayon reinforced, and with a layer of adhesive material on the upper side of the tape in position for adhering to the underside of the carpet at the seam being formed. The use of such tape has eliminated older carpet laying techniques of sewing adjacent edges together, which has represented one of the most difiicult and time consuming tasks in the carpet laying field. The installation of adhesive tape, however, has heretofore been awkward. Normally the carpet is first cut and laid in place with confronting edges of adjacent sections placed in abutting relation. A length of tape is then cut corresponding to the length of the seam and is laid over the top of the carpet at the seam. The tape must then be inserted under the carpet by hand and centered by eye. The insertion of the tape under the carpet requires awkward manipulation of the carpet edges and tape which becomes much more diflicult as the length of the seam increases.

The present invention eliminates all of the difiiculties and complexities above noted in the placement of the tape at the underside of the carpet seam. In accordance with the present invention, the confronting edges of the adjacent carpet sections are turned up at one end of the seam to create an opening between the carpet edges for placement of the present device. The present dispenser embodies a tape holder which will automatically pay out tape as the dispenser is manually pushed lengthwise of the seam; and means is provided on the holder for engagement with the carpet edges for positively and precisely holding the dispenser on center as the dispenser is run lengthwise of the seam. Accordingly, the tape may be placed with precision, easily and quickly, and regardless of the length of the seam to be formed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carpet seaming tape dispenser of the character described in which the tape adhesive may be continuously activated by heat or adhesive activating fluid as the dispenser is advanced along the seam and while the carpet edges are held in their spaced upturned form thereby assuring a proper adhesion of the carpet and tape as the carpet sec- "ice tions behind the moving dispenser return to their flat, floor-supported and edge abutting condition.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a carpet tape dispenser of the character above and which may also be used for placement of a double-faced carpet seaming tape along the floor-wall junction of a room and in the place of a nailing strip to secure the carpet edge in position at such junction.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which of the foregoing will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carpet tape dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown in operative position between carpet sections for positioning of the tape;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the dispenser;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the dispenser;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the dispenser;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of dispenser;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the form of dispenser shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a further modified form of dispenser;

FIG. 8 is an end view of dispenser of FIG. 7 and shown in operative position for placement of carpet tape at the floor-wall junction of a room;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a further modified form of the dispenser;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the dispenser taken substantially on the plane of line 11-11 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the dispenser taken substantially in the plane of line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

The carpet seaming tape of the present invention comprises briefiy a tape holder 16 dimensioned for mounting between upturned, juxtaposed

edges

17 and 18 of adjacent carpet sections 2!]. and 22 to be seamed and formed for directional release of tape 23 parallel to and

underlying edges

17 and 18, and means 26 and 27 on holder 16 for engagement with and for hearing on

edges

17 and 18 for retaining the holder centrally between the edges upon displacement of the holder longitudinally of the edges to thereby lay a strip of tape centrally of and underlying the edges as depicted in FIG. 1. As will be best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, means 26 and 27 project laterally from

opposite sides

28 and 29 of the holder for support on the

upturned carpet edges

17 and 18; and the holder, as best seen in FIG. 4, is provided with a tape discharge passage 31 adjacent the bottom 32. of the holder so that the point of discharge of the tape from the holder will aways be below the

upturned carpet edges

17 and 18.

Preferably, the holder is formed for rotational support of a roll 33 of carpet tape with the

side walls

28 and 29 of the holder spaced apart for retaining the

opposite sides

36 and 37 of the roll 33 therebetween for centering the roll in the holder and with respect to discharge passage 31. The holder as depicted in FIG. 1 is also provided with

end walls

38 and 39 so as to form a substantially rectangular enclosure for the tape roll with the end walls being spaced apart to retain the periphery of the roll in the enclosure for joint displacement of the holder and roll longitudinally of the carpet edges. Means 26 and 27 here comprise a pair of longitudinally extending flanges projecting exteriorly from side walls 2-8 and 29. The holder may be formed most conveniently and inexpensively as essentially a cardboard box in which the tape rolls may be packaged; and in such case,

flanges

26 and 27 may be merely folded out from the side wall of the box structure, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The weight of the tape roll may be used advantageously as a centralizing force by supporting the roll on bottom wall 32 which, in turn, transfers the roll weight to the upturned carpet edges via

flanges

26 and 27. Upturned

carpet edges

17 and 18 will engage the

opposite sides

28 and 29 of the holder and the undersides of

flanges

26 and 27 so as to thereby constantly position the holder on center with respect to the carpet seam being formed. As tape is paid out of the holder, the size and weight of roll 33 will decrease and the holder will tend to ride on the top of the carpet edges with the bottom 32 in spaced relation to the floor. In any case, fully or lightly weighted, the holder will move very freely longitudinally of the carpet seam being formed when manually pushed down the seam. This easy and free motion of the holder and tape roll obtains when the tape discharge passage 31 is provided in the bottom 32 of the holder, as seen in FIG. 4, or in an end wall of the holder, as seen in other embodiments of the invention herein.

The placement of the dispenser between the

upturned carpet edges

17 and 18 produces elongated openings between the carpet sections ahead of and behind the advancing dispenser. Advantage is taken of the opening 42 thus provided over the tape 23 being paid out of the dispenser for activating adhesive 43 on the tape. Various adhesives may be used such as heat activated thermoplastic, as shown in FIG. 1; fluid activated adhesive, as shown in FIG. and an adhesive parting sheet, as shown in FIG. 7. In any case, the opening 42 behind the dispenser provides access to the tape for the application of heat or fluid or for the removal of the parting sheet. A thermosetting resin adhesive 43 is shown on the top side of tape 23 in FIG. 1. This adhesive may be laid in transverse ridges as shown to permit coiling of the tape. It is activated by heat. An electric hand iron is. made for this purpose and may be positioned within opening 42 at the rear side 38 of the holder. The operator may use the iron when positioned on adhesive 43 to move the container along the seam so that the thermosetting adhesive is melted as the tape is fed out of the dispenser. As hereinabove noted, the upraised carpet edges will automatically close back together rearwardly of the dispenser as it is advanced along the seam so as to automatically come back into abutting position on the melted, activated adhesive.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5 wherein a fluid dispensing means 46 is mounted on holder 16a in position for discharging fluid onto the upper surface of discharged tape 23a. Means 46 here consists of an inverted plastic squeeze bottle demountably secured by a bracket or clip 47 to end wall 38a of the holder and is provided with a brush type applicator 48 for applying the fluid content of container 46 to the upper side of tape 23a. The operator may push the dispenser along the seam by pushing on squeeze bottle 46 thus automatically discharging fluid onto the tape being paid out. Various types of adhesive may be used, such as latex or other liquid adhesives, which may be mounted in and discharged from container 46. Also, a two-component type of adhesive may be used with one component being placed on the tape at the time of its manufacture and a second activating component mounted in container 46. In this form of the invention, the tape discharge opening 31a may be provided in the base of end wall 38a adjacent bottom 32a.

A further adaptation of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 for laying down on a floor 51 a length of tape 23b at the wall 52 junction. In this case, one flange 26b is moved to a flattened position on its adjacent side wall ZSb so as to provide a flat area for positioning against the room wall 52. The opposite flange 27b is folded out, as illustrated in FIG. 8, so as to engage the upper edge 18b of carpet section 22b which is to be laid up to wall 52. The dispenser is thus constantly urged by the carpet against wall 52 as the dispenser is moved along the base of the wall for the placement of a length of tape 23!; thereat. Normally, a tacking strip is nailed to the floor at wall 52 for securing the carpet edge. To replace this tacking strip, a double-faced tape is preferably used, that is a tape which is adhesively coated on both sides. A parting sheet 54 may be mounted on the normally upper side of the tape so as to facilitate the preparation of the tape in roll form and the subsequent unrolling thereof on the job. In such case, the parting sheet 54 may be withdrawn from the upper surface of the tape through the carpet opening provided at the trailing end 38b of the dispenser. In the structure, as illustrated, the tape discharge opening 31b is provided in wall 38b. Tape 23b will adhere to the floor 51 due to the adhesive coating on its underside and will adhere to the underside of carpet edge portion 18b by means of the adhesive coating on its upper side which is exposed by peeling off of parting sheet 54.

A further modified form of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 10 wherein the dispenser is designed as a more permanent tool for receiving and demountably supporting tape rolls 33c and, more particularly, tape rolls having center openings 56. The dispenser here consists briefly of a U-shaped holder having substantially parallel side Walls 28c and 29c spaced apart for retaining the opposite sides of roll 33c therebetween; and a shaft 57 demountably secured to walls 28c and 29c perpendicularly thereto and dimensioned for threading through the roll center opening 56 for retaining the roll within the container. The holder may be conveniently formed of U-shape having a bottom 32c supporting side walls 28c and 29c, and due to the use of shaft 57 for supporting roll 330, end walls may be deleted. Flanges 26c and 270 are secured to side walls 28c and 290 and project therefrom for engagement with the upturned carpet edges as in the earlier described forms of the invention.

Shaft 57 is here demountably secured in open

top slots

58 and 59 formed in the upper ends of walls 280 and 290, and may be retained in the slots by providing the opposite ends of the shaft with reduced

neck portions

61 and 62 dimensioned to fit in

slots

58 and 59. Normally, the tape 230 will be fed from the bottom of the roll through the open end wall of the holder. This condition will obtain for rolls having the adhesive on the interior side of the tape, such as illustrated in FIG. I. Where the adhesive is mounted on the exterior side of the tape, the tape will be fed from the top side of the roll and brought down and under a roller 63 mounted across walls 280 and 29c in spaced relation to bottom 32c at the trailing end of the dispenser. The spacing of roller 63 from bottom 32c defines a tape discharge opening 310 between the two similar to discharge openings 31a and 31b in the earlier described forms of the invention. The extension of the tape from the top of the roll 33c down and under roller 63 causes the exterior tape side of the roll to appear uppermost as the tape is paid out of the dispenser.

Any of the forms of the invention may be used for back seaming of carpet. In such case, the carpet sections are inverted with their normally base side uppermost and laid edge to edge as in the normal seaming operation. In such case, the tape will be usually fed from the top of the roll as the dispenser is moved along the seam with the carpet edges engaged under the side flanges so as to deposit the tape on the top side of the carpet. In such case, the tape is rolled so as to position the adhesive on the interior or underside of the tape.

I claim:

1. A carpet seaming tape dispenser comprising:

a tape holder dimensioned for mounting between upturned juxtaposed edges of adjacent carpet sections to be seamed and formed for directional release of tape parallel to and underlying said edges; and

means on said holder for engagement with and for bearing on said edges for retaining said holder centrally between said edges upon displacement of said holder longitudinally of said edges to thereby lay a strip of tape centrally of and underlying said edges.

2. A dispenser as defined in claim 1:

said means projecting laterally from opposite sides of said holder for support on said upturned carpet edges; and

said holder providing a tape discharge passage adjacent the bottom thereof.

3. A dispenser as defined in claim 2:

said holder being formed for rotational support of a roll of carpet seaming tape and having substantially parallel side walls spaced apart for retaining the opposite sides of said roll therebetween for centering said roll in said holder and with respect to said passage; said means being secured to and projecting from said side walls.

4. A dispenser as defined in claim 3, said side walls being formed with longitudinally extending fianges projecting exteriorly therefrom and providing said means.

5. A dispenser as defined in claim 4:

said holder having end Walls connected to said side walls to form a substantially rectangular enclosure for said tape roll with said end walls being spaced apart to retain the periphery of said roll in said enclosure for joint displacement of said holder and roll longitudinally of said carpet edges.

6. A dispenser as defined in claim 5, said holder being formed of cardboard and said flanges being folded out from said side walls.

7. A dispenser as defined in claim 5:

said holder having a bottom Wall for supporting said roll and for applying at least a portion of the weight of said roll as a centralizing force positioning said holder between said edges.

8. A dispenser as defined in claim 8, said bottom wall being formed with an opening therein defining said tape discharge passage.

9. A dispenser as defined in claim 1; and

fluid dispensing means mounted on said holder in position for discharging fluid onto the upper surface of discharged tape.

10. A dispenser as defined in claim 9, said fluid dispensing means comprising:

a flexible walled container mounted at the normally trailing end of said holder in position for manual engagement for simultaneously displacing said holder and discharging fluid from said container.

11. A dispenser as defined in claim 1; and

means demountably securing a roll of tape in said holder.

12. A dispenser as defined in claim 11:

said holder having substantially parallel side walls spaced apart for retaining the opposite sides of said roll therebetween; and

said last named means cofunctioning With tape rolls having center spacings and comprising a shaft demountably secured to said side walls prependicularly thereto and dimensioned for threading through roll center openings.

13. A carpet tape dispenser for laying down on a floor a length of tape for securing a carpet edge at a room wall junction comprising:

a holder formed for rotational support of a roll of carpet tape and for sliding support against a room wall with one side of said tape adjacent and parallel thereto and for directional release of tape parallel to said wall; and

means on said holder at an opposite side of said roll for engagement with and for bearing upon the upturned edge of said carpet for retaining said holder in position against said wall upon displacement of said holder over the floor along said wall.

14. A dispenser as defined in claim 13:

flanges connected to said side Walls and projecting laterally therefrom to provide said means, at least one of said flanges being movable to a flattened position on its adjacent side wall for positioning against the room wall.

15. A dispenser as defined in claim 1?:

said holder having end walls connected to said side walls to form a substantially rectangular enclosure for said tape roll with said end walls being dimensioned to retain said roll in said enclosure for joint displacement; and

one of said end walls being formed with an opening therein defining a tape discharge passage.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,645,831 2/ 1972 Thaeler 156----52.7 2,918,189 12/1959 Frohbach et a]. r 156-577 2,677,410 5/1954 Reinhard 156--574 ALFRED L. LEAVI'IT, Primary Examiner C. WESTON, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 156-505, 527, 577, 578