GB2070659A

GB2070659A - Apparatus for and a method of grooming carpets

Info

Publication number: GB2070659A
Application number: GB8005605A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MEYRICK W
Current assignee: MEYRICK W
Priority date: 1980-02-19
Filing date: 1980-02-19
Publication date: 1981-09-09
Also published as: GB2070659B

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a base unit (10) having a first plate (15) having a lower carpet engageable surface which is so profiled as to create drag between said surface and the carpet, a second plate (16) secured to the first plate and one or more heating elements (17) clamped between the first and second plates. An elongate handle (13) is connected to the base unit for drawing the apparatus along the carpet. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for and a method of grooming carpets This invention relates to apparatus for and a method of grooming carpets, particularly but not exclusively pile carpets.

It is well known that pile carpets often exhibit a tide mark where the pile has fallen in an opposite direction to an adjacent part of the carpet. This is known in the trade as "pile reversal", "pooling", or "tracking". It is particularly noticeable on non patterned pile carpets.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for grooming a carpet, comprising a base unit which includes one or more heating elements and a lower carpet engageable surface which is so profiled as to create drag between said surface and the carpet when the apparatus is drawn along the carpet, and a handle connected to the base unit for drawing the apparatus along the carpet.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of grooming a pile carpet, comprising the steps of: (a) working the pile into a substantially upright position.

(b) subsequently drawing the above mentioned apparatus across the carpet with the heating elements at an elevated temperature.

The pile may be worked into a substantially upright position by moistening and then combing or brushing or by moistening and applying a negative pressure to the pile such as may be achieved for example, by conventional steam vacuum extraction carpet cleaning apparatus.

The above mentioned apparatus may also be used to dry carpets.

The base unit of the apparatus preferably comprises a first plate the lower surface of which is profiled as aforesaid and a second plate secured to the first plate with the or each heating element clamped between the first and second plates. The base unit may further include a cover attached to the first plate and enclosing the second plate and the heating elements.

Advantageously, the lower surface of the base unit is provided with a plurality of ribs which extend in at least two mutually transverse directions.

The handle may be elongate and pivotably connected at one end to the base unit. Means may be provided for releasably fastening the handle in any one of at least two angular positions relative to the base unit.

The base unit may rotatably support one or more rollers or wheels engageable with the ground when the base unit is rocked out of engagement with the ground.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of carpet grooming apparatus according to the invention, Figure 2 is a side view of the lower part of the apparatus of Fig. 1, and Figure 3 is a view from below of part of the base plate of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring Ito Fig. 1, the carpet grooming apparatus shown therein comprises a base unit 10 having two upstanding L-shaped brackets 11 and 12 between which the lower end of an elongate handle 13 is pivotably supported by a pin 14 extending through aligned apertures in the vertically extending flange of each bracket and in the lower end of the handle (shown at 9). The handle has a cross-piece 15 at its upper end.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 2, the base unit 10 comprises a substantially flat, rectangular metal base plate 15 curved upwardly adjacent to its rear edge, a solid rectangular metal plate 16 secured to the upper surface of the plate 15 by bolts or the like and a plurality of heating elements 17 clamped between the plates 15 and 16 and connected to an electrical supply lead (not shown). The plate 16 is of smaller dimensions than the plate 15 and a cover 18, to which the brackets 11 and 12 are secured, is secured to the upper surface of the plate 15 and encloses the plate 16 and the heating elements 17.

A pair of lugs 19 project rearwardly and slightly upwardly from the cover 18. A roller 20 is journalled between the lugs 19, although the roller may be replaced with one or more wheels. The roller is arranged so that it will engage the ground for easy movement of the apparatus when the base unit is rocked rearwardly out of engagement with the ground.

The lower surface of the base plate 15 is provided with a plurality of discrete areas 21.

Each area 21 is provided with a plurality of integral spaced apart parallel ribs to create drag between the lower surface of the base plate and a carpet when the apparatus is drawn along the carpet by a user. Each area defines a square and each edge of the square is common with an edge of an adjacent square. One of each pair of square areas having a common edge has ribs extending normally to the other. Hence, in whichever direction the base unit is drawn along the carpet the ribs will create drag between the lower surface of the base plate and the carpet.

The vertically extending flange of each bracket 11, 12 has in addition to the aforesaid aperture, a series of spaced apertures lying on an arc of a circle centred on the aforesaid aperture. The handle 13 also has a further aperture 22 which can be aligned with any one of the series of apertures in each bracket and a pin can be inserted to releasably fasten the handle in a desired angular position relative to the base unit.

In order to remove tide marks in pile carpets caused by "pile reversal", the pile is initially worked into a substantially upright position. This may be achieved by moistening the pile and then manually combing or brushing it or it may be achieved by moistening the pile and applying a negative pressure such as by conventional steam vacuum extraction carpet cleaning apparatus.

The pile is then caused to lie down in one direction by a user drawing the above carpet grooming apparatus along the carpet in one direction, the heating elements being energised to elevate the temperature of the base plate. Initially, to enhance the drag between the base plate and carpet, the base unit may be rocked rearwardly onto its curved edge so that the weight of the apparatus is concentrated along this edge.

Further rearward rocking of the base unit will cause the roller to engage the ground for ease of transportation.

The carpet grooming apparatus may also be used to dry a carpet after it has been cleaned.

Claims

1. Apparatus for grooming a carpet, comprising a base unit which includes one or more heating elements and a lower carpet engageable surface which is so profiled as to create drag between said surface and the carpet when the apparatus is drawn along the carpet, and a handle connected to the base unit for drawing the apparatus along the carpet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base unit comprises a first plate the lower surface of which is profiled as aforesaid, and a second plate secured to the first plate with the or each heating element clamped between the first and second plates.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the base unit includes a cover attached to the first plate and enclosing the second plate and the heating elements.

4. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower surface of the base unit is provided with a plurality of ribs which extend in at least two mutually transverse directions.

5. The apparatus of any one of the preceding ciaims, wherein the handle is elongate and pivotably connected at one end to the base unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein means are provided for releasably fastening the handle in any one of at least two angular positions relative to the base unit.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base unit rotatably supports one or more rollers or wheels engageable with the ground when the base unit is rocked out of engagement with the ground.

8. A method of grooming a pile carpet, comprising the steps of: (a) working the pile into a substantially upright position, (b) subsequently drawing the apparatus of any one of the preceding claims across the carpet with the heating elements at an elevated temperature.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the pile is worked into a substantially upright position by moistening and then combing or brushing.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the pile is worked into a substantially upright position by moistening and applying a negative pressure to the pile.

11. Apparatus for grooming carpets, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of grooming carpets as claimed in claim 8, and substantially as herein before described.