GB2210575A

GB2210575A - Making tool for use in laying floor coverings

Info

Publication number: GB2210575A
Application number: GB8822607A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Cutts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-10-05
Filing date: 1988-09-27
Publication date: 1989-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2008-09-27
Also published as: GB8822607D0; GB2210575B

Abstract

A tool for use in laying floor coverings which are to be trimmed to size around their edges and welded to foot portions of vinyl skirtings (10) fitted around the walls. So that the tool can be used to accurately trim the floor covering despite the fact that the foot portions of the skirting are hidden from view by the edge portions of the floor covering, the tool has a handle (16) and a body part (18) carrying a marking or scribing device (20) a continuation of the body part being doubled back beneath the body part and having an abutment surface (24) capable of bearing against the edge surface (15) of the foot portion (14) of a previously secured skirting (10). <IMAGE>

Description

Tool for use in laying floor coverings.

The invention relates to a tool for use in laying vinyl floor coverings.

It is of vital importance that the floor coverings in hospitals in particular can be kept clean to a very high standard. It is therefore standard practice to fit vinyl skirtings around the walls so that they extend six inches or so up the walls, and then to lay vinyl floor coverings and to weld the edges of the floor coverings to , foot portions of the skirtings extending away from the walls so that in the finished floor there is no crevice in which germs can exist. The floor can easily be kept clean to a very high standard of cleanliness by mopping and by the use of suitable cleaning agents. However, the laying of floors in this way is not only useful in hospitals but also in, for example, schools, canteens and restaurants and in the parts of domestic premises where kidney dialysis machines are to be used.

A particular problem in the laying of a floor in the manner described is that the cutting of the vinyl floor covering so that its edges just coincide with the edges of the inwardly extending foot portions of the skirtings is difficult and laborious, this being partly because the walls are never absolutely straight so that the edge of the foot portion of each skirting invariably follows a slightly wavy line. Another difficulty is that when the floor covering is first laid, roughly up to the upstanding parts of the skirtings so that a final trimming operation is then required, there is difficulty of access to the edges of the foot portions of the skirtings because the edges of the floor coverings overlie them.The result is that the crevice which is formed between the edges of the floor covering and the edges of the inwardly extending foot portions of the skirtings when the floor covering has been trimmed is not of constant width and this presents difficulties when those edges are to be welded together.

The invention has for its object to provide a tool by means of which the problem referred to can be at least alleviated.

According to the invention there is provided a tool for use in laying floor coverings, the tool having a handle and a body part carrying a marking or scribing device, a continuation of the body part being doubled back beneath the body part and having an abutment surface capable of bearing against the edge surface of the foot portion of a previously secured skirting, the arrangement being such that, in use of the tool, the scribing device can be held in contact with the surface of the floor covering an edge portion of which requires to be carefully trimmed, and then traversed along, close to the visible upstanding part of the previously secured skirting element, with the abutment surface in sliding engagement with the hidden edge of the foot portion of the skirting. The scribing device may be located in an adjusted position along a slot in the body part.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:- Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic side view of a tool embodying the invention, in use, and Figure 2 is a plan view.

Referring now to the drawings, the tool there illustrated is for use in laying floor coverings by the method involving the fitting of vinyl skirtings 10 around the walls so that they extend some way up the walls and secured thereto by an adhesive, followed by the laying of vinyl floor covering 12 and the final step of welding the edges of the floor covering to foot portions 14 of the skirtings extending away from the walls. In Figure 1 it can be seen that the tool has a handle 16 and a body part 18 carrying a scribing device generally indicated 20. A continuation 22 of the body part doubles back at an acute angle beneath the body part, as shown in Figure 1, said doubled back portion having at its free end a downturned abutment surface 24. The cutting edge of the scribing device is shown to be exactly in line with the abutment surface.

The scribing device 20 is shown to be constituted by a pointed pin 26 which extends through a screwthreaded member 28 and clamped in position therein by a knurled nut 30. The screwthreaded member 28 is clamped in position at an adjusted position along a slot 32 in the body part 18 of the tool by another knurled nut 34.

As shown in the drawings, at the stage at which the tool is brought into use, the upstanding part of the skirting 10 has been secured to the wall by an adhesive and the vinyl floor covering has been laid and its edge coarsely cut so that it partly overlies the foot portion of the skirting, hiding the edge 15 from view. In being positioned in readiness for use, the tool has been arranged so that the coarsely cut edge portion of the floor covering extends between the portions 18 and 22 of the body part and the abutment surface 24 has been engaged with the edge 15 of the foot portion of the skirting.

In use of the tool, the scribing device is held in contact with the surface of the vinyl floor covering and the tool is then traversed along, close to the upstanding visible part of the previously secured skirting 10, with the abutment surface 24 in sliding engagement with the edge 15 of the foot portion of the skirting, which is of course hidden from view beneath the coarsely cut edge portion of the floor covering at this stage.

Having been marked in this way by the scribing device, the previously coarsely cut edge portion of the floor covering can be trimmed by cutting along the scribed line. It will then be found that the edge of the floor covering will exactly match the edge 15 of the foot portion of the skirting. It may be desired to leave a slight gap for the subsequent application of weld material but it will be understood that the edge of the floor covering will exactly match the edge 15 of the foot portion of the skirting in the sense that the slight gap will be of constant width along its length regardless of any deviation from a straight line which might result from the wall to which the skirting has been secured not being perfectly straight.

Thus there is provided a tool for use in laying floor coverings which has been found to be very useful in fitting floor coverings by the method referred to. However, various modifications could be made. For example, it would be possible to fit the part 22 of the body of the tool with two or more small rollers adapted to engage the edge 15 of the floor portion of the skirting.

Claims

1. A tool for use in laying floor coverings, the tool having a handle and a body part carrying a marking or scribing device, a continuation of the body part being doubled back beneath the body part and having an abutment surface capable of bearing against the edge surface of the foot portion of a previously secured skirting, the arrangement being such that, in use of the tool, the scribing device can be held in contact with the surface of the floor covering an edge portion of which requires to be carefully trimmed, and then traversed along, close to the visible upstanding part of the previously secured skirting element, with the abutment surface in sliding engagement with the hidden edge of the foot portion of the skirting.

2. A tool according to claim 1, in which the scribing device is located in an adjusted position along a slot in the body part.

3. A tool according to either one of the preceding claims, in which the scribing device is constituted by a pointed pin extending through a screwthreaded member and clamped in position by a nut.

4. A tool for use in laying floor coverings, the tool being constructed, arranged and adapted to be used, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.