GB2247619A

GB2247619A - Carpet edging strip

Info

Publication number: GB2247619A
Application number: GB9117883A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Inglis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-09-05
Filing date: 1991-08-19
Publication date: 1992-03-11
Anticipated expiration: 2011-08-19
Also published as: GB9019379D0; GB2247619B; GB9117883D0

Abstract

A carpet edging strip for location between an area of fixed carpet and an area of removable carpet comprising an extrusion 12 adapted to be secured to the floor 14 and having along one of its sides means for locating and concealing the edge of an area of fixed carpet, and along the other of its sides a hinged flap 16 which can be raised to permit the positioning or lifting of an area of removable carpet and lowered to engage the floor or to overlie the edge of the area of removable carpet. <IMAGE>

Description

Carpet Edging Strip This invention concerns a carpet edging strip, and more particularly one for location between an area of fixed carpet and an area of removable carpet as frequently used to cover an area of dance floor when not in use for such purpose.

Function suites of hotels and the like are frequently provided with an area of dance floor, which when not in use for dancing, can be covered with a loose piece of carpet to abut any surrounding fixed carpet to increase the carpetted area for dining or other purposes.

Such loose carpet pieces have a number of disadvantages. Their edges, which are unprotected, are subject to rapid wear, and more importantly constitute a hazard over which users of the area can easily trip.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a carpet edging strip for location between an area of fixed carpet and an area of removable carpet and which overcomes, at least to some extent, the disadvantages aforesaid.

According to the present invention there is provided a carpet edging strip for location between an area of fixed carpet and an area of removable carpet comprising an extrusion adapted to be secured to the floor and having along one of its sides means for locating and concealing the edge of an area of fixed carpet, and along the other of its sides a hinged flap which can be raised to permit the positioning or lifting of an area of removable carpet and lowered to engage the floor or to overlie the edge of the area of removable carpet.

The means for locating and concealing the edge of an area of fixed carpet may comprise a laterally outwardly directed channel portion adapted to receive the carpet edge.

The lower web of the channel portion which engages the floor may extend outwardly beyond the upper web of the channel portion and may be provided with upwardly and inwardly directed pins to grip the underside of a carpet fitted into the channel portion.

The flap may extend from a cylindrical portion having a bore therethrough which is located on an axle extending the length of the strip.

Torsion springs may be located at spaced intervals along the length of the flap to urge it towards its lowered position.

The cylindrical portion may have a longitudinally extending arcuate recess which engages with a longitudinally extending spring strip to hold the flap in its fully raised position against the action of the torsion springs.

The underside of the flap may be provided with pins to engage with and grip the upper face of the edge of the area of removable carpet to prevent accidental displacement thereof.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, two forms of the edging strip embodying same.

Of the drawings : Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one form of the strip with its flap raised.

Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the strip of figure 1 with its flap raised; Figure 3 shows a cross-section through the strip of figure 1 with its flap lowered onto carpet; Figure 4 shows a cross-section through the strip of figure 1 with its flap lowered onto the floor; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a second form of the strip; and Figure 6 shows a cross-section of the strip of figure 5 with its flap lowered onto the floor.

Figure 1 illustrates one form of a carpet edging strip 11 comprising an aluminium extrusion 12 with holes 13 therethrough to enable the extrusion to be screwed to the floor 14. The extrusion 12 has, along one of its sides, a means for locating and concealing the edge of an area of fixed carpet, and along the other of its sides a hinged flap 16 which can be raised to permit the positioning or lifting of an area of removable carpet and lowered to engage the floor or overlie the edge of the area of removable carpet.

The means for locating and concealing the edge of an area of fixed carpet comprises a laterally outwardly directed channel portion 15 adapted to receive the carpet edge.

The lower web 17 of the channel portion 15 which engages the floor 14 extends outwardly beyond the upper web 18 of the channel portion 15 and is provided with upwardly and inwardly directed pins 19 to grip the underside of the carpet fitted into the channel portion 15.

The flap 16 extends from a cylindrical portion 20 having a bore 21 therethrough which is located on an axle 22 extending the length of the strip 12.

Torsion springs 23 are located at spaced intervals along the length of the flap 16 to urge it towards its lowered position.

The springs 23 are located around the axle 22 in spaced cut-outs 20a in the portion 20 and have the ends of their arms anchored beneath the extrusion 12 and under a lip at the forward edge of the flap 16 respectively. In this way the springs 23 also serve to support the axle 22.

The cylindrical portion 20 has a longitudinally extending arcuate recess 24 which engages with a longitudinally extending convex spring strip 25 located between nibs on the extrusion 12 to hold the flap 16 in its fully raised position against the action of the torsion springs 23.

The underside of the flap 16 is provided with pins 26 to engage with and grip the upper face of the edge of the area of movable carpet to prevent accidental displacement thereof.

Figures 2-4 show the operation of the carpet edging strip 11 of figure 1.

In figure 2 the flap 16 is raised to enable positioning or lifting of an area of removable carpet 27. The area of fixed carpet 28 is secured onto the carpet edging strip 11 by pins 19 on the extended lower web 17 of the channeled portion 15 and the carpet edge is concealed by the upper web 18 of the channeled portion 15. The web 17 lies flush with underlay 28a to the fixed carpet area 28. The raised flap 16 is held in position against the force of torsion springs 23 by engagement of spring strip 25 within the recess 24.

In figure 3 the flap 16 is lowered, by pulling to displace the engagement of the spring strip 25 from the recess 24, onto the area of removable carpet 27, which is held in position by pins 26 on the underside of the flap 16.

Figure 4 shows the carpet edging strip 11 lowered to the floor 14 after removal of carpet 27.

A second form of the edging strip 111 is illustrated in figures 5 and 6. The pins 126 on the underside of the flap 116 are pyrimidal in shape making the strip safer to handle than the strip illustrated in figures 1 to 4 whose pins are more needle-like, and alleviates the necessity to secure the strip 111 in an upright position whilst positioning or lifting an area of removable carpet, and so the spring strip 25 is omitted from this particular embodiment. The springs 123 are located and anchored in much the same way as shown in the strip of figures 1 to 4, with the arm of the spring 123 passing through the pins 126 before being anchored under the lip of the flap 116.

The operation of the carpet edging strip 111 is the same as that described above for strip 11.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims

1. A carpet edging strip for location between an area of fixed carpet and an area of removable carpet comprising an extrusion adapted to be secured to the floor and having along one of its sides means for locating and concealing the edge of an area of fixed carpet, and along the other of its sides a hinged flap which can be raised to permit the positioning or lifting of an area of removable carpet and lowered to engage the floor or to overlie the edge of the area of removable carpet.

2. A carpet edging strip according to claim 1, wherein the means for locating and concealing the edge of an area of fixed carpet comprise a laterally outwardly directed channel portion adapted to receive the carpet edge.

3. A carpet edging strip according to claim 2, wherein the lower web of the channel portion which engages the floor extends outwardly beyond the upper web of the channel portion and is provided with upwardly and inwardly directed pins to grip the underside of a carpet fitted into the channel portion.

4. A carpet edging strip according to any preceeding claim, wherein the flap extends from a cylindrical portion having a bore therethrough which is located on an axle extending the length of the strip.

5. A carpet edging strip according to claim 4, wherein torsion springs are located at spaced intervals along the length of the flap to urge it towards its lowered position.

6. A carpet edging strip according to claim 5, wherein the cylindrical portion has a longitudinally extending arcuate recess which engages with a longitudinally extending spring strip to hold the flap in its fully raised position against the action of the torsion springs.

7. A carpet edging strip according to any preceeding claim, wherein the underside of the flap is provided with pins to engage with and grip the upper face of the edge of the area of removable carpet to prevent accidental displacement thereof.