GB2155325A

GB2155325A - Carpet anchoring device

Info

Publication number: GB2155325A
Application number: GB08406189A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Owen Warren
Original assignee: H O W DESIGNS Ltd
Current assignee: H O W DESIGNS Ltd
Priority date: 1984-03-09
Filing date: 1984-03-09
Publication date: 1985-09-25
Also published as: GB2155325B; GB8406189D0

Abstract

A carpet anchoring device includes a stud (5) which is fixed adjacent one edge of a carpet (1),and a sleeve (11) which fits over the stud and projects over the edge of the carpet in use. The sleeve (11) compresses the carpet (1) against the underlying surface (2) and is retained on the stud (5) by the resilience of the gripped carpet. Two such sleeves may receive the ends of a stair rod (10). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Carpet anchoring device This invention relates to devices for anchoring stair carpets and for retaining the edges of carpets generally.

The well known and traditional method of anchoring a stair carpet employs stair rods which extend across the width of the carpet and which are anchored to the staircase adjacent each edge of the carpet. Such stair rods, traditionally of brass, required fixed anchorages at each end, normally screwed into the staircase, and were not suitable for use with "fully fitted" stair carpets, that is, carpets extending across the whole width of the stairs between opposing skirting boards. This in turn renders the removal of the stair rods, for example when decorating, a time consuming and tedious operation.

The present invention aims to provide an improved carpet anchoring device for use in conjunction with a stair rod which, once installed, allows a stair carpet to be fixed and released with relative ease, and which is useable with "fully fitted" stair carpets.

According to the invention, in one aspect, there is provided a stair carpet anchoring device comprising a stair rod opposite ends of which fit into sockets formed by respective coupling sleeves which fit slidably over respective studs fixed adjacent the opposite edges of the carpet coaxially with the stair rod when fixed.

Each coupling sleeve may be formed with an external shoulder, such that when the sleeve is fitted on the stud it grips the carpet frictionally or resiliently. The coupling sleeves anchor the stair rod, holding the latter coaxially with the two studs fixed at opposite ends of the rod, the length of the rod being selected so that it is substantially the same as the distance between the inner ends of the two studs. In order to release the stair rod it is simply necessary to slide the coupling sleeves along the rod until they disengage from the respective studs.

Similarly, fixing of a stair carpet is effected by pushing the stair carpet into the corner defined between each stair tred and riser and then sliding the two sleeves outwardly along the stair rod until they engage upon the two previously fixed and aligned studs.

The socket of each coupling sleeve is preferably formed by one end of the internal bore of the sleeve, the other end of which fits slidably on the respective stud. Preferably,the internal bore of the sleeve has an enlarged portion or counterbore which fits over the stud, to avoid the trapping of pile fibres of the carpet as the sleeve is fitted over the stud.

The studs may be fixed adjacent the edges of the carpet by any suitable means. Where the studs are to be fixed to a staircase having conventional skirting boards each stud may have an axial bore for receiving a fixing screw by means of which the stud may he secured to a skirting board so that the stud is perpendicular to the skirting board.

The invention is not confined to the fixing of stair carpets or indeed to the use of stair rods as such. It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a device of a similar construction to that described above for retaining the edges of a carpet. Thus,according to another aspect of the invention,there is provided a carpet edge retaining device comprising a stud adapted to be fixed adjacent one edge of a carpet and a sleeve which fits over the stud and which in use of the device projects over the edge of the carpet, compressing the latter against the underlying surface, the sleeve being retained on the stud by the resilience of the gripped carpet.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying purely diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing part of a stair carpet anchoring device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an elevational view of part of a staircase showing the stair carpet anchoring device of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a longitudinal axial section of part of the device shown in Figure 2, adjacent one edge of a stair carpet.

Referring first to Figure 1, part of a "fully fitted" stair carpet 1 is shown which passes over a stair tread 2 and a riser 3, and extends across the whole width of the stairs between opposing skirting boards 16. The stair carpet is anchored in the corner defined by the tread 2 and the riser 3 by an anchoring device according to the invention, indicated generally 4.

The anchoring device 4 includes a pair of cylindrical studs 5 which are fixed to the opposite skirting boards 16 of the staircase by respective fixing screws 6. The studs 5 are coaxial with each other and project perpendicularly from the respective staircase skirting board to which they are attached.

The correct position for each fixing stud 5 is easily predetermined by means of a cylindrical steel gimlet 8 (Figure 1) provided with a central axially extending spike 9 at one end. The gimlet 8 is pressed against the carpet 1 and pushed into the corner between the tread 2 and riser 3. The gimlet 8 is then tapped with a hammer so that the spike 9 makes a hole in the skirting board 16.This hole defines the position of the fixing screw 6 for the stud 5.

Fixing studs 5 are fastened to the skirting boards 16 of the staircase at each stair tread. Respective stair rods 10 are cut from extruded lengths of glass-fibre reinforced plastics material, the length of each stair rod 10 being slightly less than the distance between the inner end faces of the two fixing studs 5 for each stair tread. Two coupling sleeves 11 are slidably mounted on each stair rod 10.

When the stair rod 10 has been pushed home against the carpet 1 into the corner between the stair tread 2 and riser 3, the two coupling sleeves 11 are slid outwardly so that the sockets defined by the internal bores of the coupling sleeves 11 slide onto the studs 5, on which they are a close sliding fit. The sleeves 11 in this way couple the stair rod 10 to the two studs 5 at each end, holding the stair rod 10 coaxial with the two studs 5.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3,it will be seen that each coupling sleeve 11 has a stepped outer surface defining a larger-diameter portion 12 at its end which fits over the stud 5. This portion 12 compresses the underlying carpet 1 against the stair tread 2 (Figure 3) so that the sleeve 11 is retained on the stud 5 by the resilience of the carpet.

The internal bore of each coupling sleeve 11 has an enlarged mouth 14 at the end which fits over the stud 5 , adjoining a countersunk or recessed portion 15. This prevents the sleeve 11 from trapping any carpet pile fibres as the sleeve is slid relative to the stair rod 10 towards the stud 5.

In some practical embodiments of the invention the edges of a carpet 1 may be retained sufficiently by the larger-diameter portions 12 of the sleeves 11 which compress the edges of the carpet 1, in which case the stair rod 10 may be dispensed with and the edges of the carpet retained solely by the two sleeves 11 captive on the studs 5.

From the aforegoing, it will be apparent that the anchoring device 4 of the present invention is ideally suited for use with "fully-fitted" stair carpets and, in this respect, has a considerable advantage over the prior art.

Claims

1. A stair carpet anchoring device comprising a stair rod opposite ends of which fit into sockets formed by respective coupling sleeves which fit slidably over respective studs fixed adjacent the opposite edges of the carpet coaxialiy with the stair rod when fixed.

2. A device according to Claim 1, in which each coupling sleeve has an external surface such that, when the sleeve is fitted on the stud, it grips the carpet frictionally or resiliently.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the socket of each coupling sleeve is formed by one end of the internal bore of the sleeve, the other end of which fits slidably on the respective stud.

4. A device according to Claim 3, in which the internal bore of the sleeve has an enlarged portion or counter bore at the end which fits over the stud.

5. A device according to Claim 4, in which the external gripping surface of the sleeve is defined by a stepped outer surface which constitutes a larger-diameter portion corresponding with the en larged portion or counter bore of the internal bore.

6. A device according to any of the preceding claims, in which each stud has an axial bore for re ceiving a fixing screw for securing the stud to a skirting board of a staircase so that the stud is per pendicular to the skirting board.

7. A carpet edge retaining device comprising a stud adapted to be fixed adjacent one edge of a carpet and a sleeve which fits over the stud and which in use of the device projects over the edge of the carpet, compressing the latter against the underlying surface, the sleeve being retained in the stud by the resilience of the gripped carpet.

8. A method of anchoring a stair carpet to a staircase having opposing skirting boards, comprising for each tread of the staircase the steps of: fitting a fixing stud to each skirting board in the corner between the tread and its respective riser, so that the studs are coaxial with each other and project perpendicularly from the skirting boards; providing a stair rod having a length slightly less than the distance between the facing ends of the studs and carrying a pair of slidable coupling sleeves with sockets adapted to be a close sliding fit over respective studs, and pushing the stair rod into the said corner against the carpet and sliding the coupling sleeves over the studs, so that the sleeves couple the stair rod to the studs and grip the carpet frictionally or resiliently.

9. A method according to Claim 8, in which the studs are located by means of a cylindrical gimlet having a central axially extending spike at one end, the gimlet being pressed against the carpet in the said corner between the tread and riser and then being tapped so that the spike makes a hole in the skirting board, this hole defining the position for a fixing screw or the like of a respective stud.

10. A carpet anchoring device substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of anchoring a stair carpet to a staircase, substantially as herein described, with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.