GB2257039A

GB2257039A - A mitre section for use with carpet naplok strips

Info

Publication number: GB2257039A
Application number: GB9211337A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Russell Arthur Norris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-06-29
Filing date: 1992-05-28
Publication date: 1993-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 2012-05-28
Also published as: GB9211337D0; GB2257039B; GB9114104D0

Abstract

A mitre section has a base plate section 1 from which projects upwardly a channel portion 2 forming a mitred corner 3. The base plate has an extension part 4 enabling the mitre section to be fixed to the floor by screws passing through holes 5. This mitre section will be used in combination with a naplok strip 6 which will be fitted into two parts of the channel portion 2. The mitre section with the attached naplok strips will be used to protect a corner of a piece of carpet. <IMAGE>

Description

"Improvements relating to Mitres" Mitred naplok strips provide a neat protective edge to carpeting, especially where a carpeted area abuts up to an area devoid of carpet. This may be where a doorway opens into an uncarpeted region. There is also the situation, in large offices for example, where the carpet does not extend to the walls of the room so that an uncarpeted edge is created. In these instances it is necessary to cut the naplok with various internal and external angles to form mitres. Invariably these mitres are poorly cut, or with weight of wear, the gap in the mitre opens and looks shoddy.

Externally cut mitres form sharp and dangerous points at floor level. Also considerable time and effort is used by the carpet fitter in preparing mitres.

It is an object of this invention to provide means whereby carpet naploks can be fitted to corner portions of carpet without the need to form mitred edges to the naplok on site.

Accordingly, this invention provides a mitre section for use with carpet naplok strips and comprises a base plate to be fixed to a floor and a channel portion projecting from the base plate and defining a predetermined angle for a corner of a carpet to be fitted, the channel portion being open at one side to receive the carpet and being shaped and dimensioned to receive and retain the ends of two naplok strips which will meet at the angle within the channel portion.

This mitre section provides a neat and smooth corner for naplok strips extending to that corner. In many instances the corner will be right-angled in shape but in some situations a carpet corner may be formed at an angle other than 900. The mitre section could, of course, be preformed to any desired angle. Furthermore, the mitre section can be formed to fit into either an external or internal angle of a piece of carpet.

In the preferred arrangement, the upper edge of the open channel portion has a downwardly directed nib to retain the upper edges of the naplok strips. The mitre section can be formed so that the central portion of the base plate is of greater thickness than the remainder of the base plate and the base plate can incorporate'means enabling the mitre section to be fixed to a floor. The thickened central portion adds to the strength of the mitre and helps to prevent splitting of the corners.

If the mitre section is formed so that the channel portion extends beyond the sides of the base plate there will be a smoother interlinking of the mitre section and the naplok since the naplok need not be raised to seat onto the base plate.

The mitre section may conveniently be of a moulded or extruded form and manufactured from aluminium or other suitable metal or polypropylene, polyvinylchloride or other suitable plastics material.

The invention may be performed in various ways and preferred embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figures 1 and 2 illustrate two standard forms of mitre section of this invention; Figure 3 is a vertical section through the mitre section shown in either of Figures 1 or 2, when combined with a carpet naplok strip; and Figures 4 to 8 illustrate alternative designs of a mitre section of the invention.

The mitre section shown in Figure 1 has a base plate 1 from which projects upwardly a channel portion 2 forming a mitred corner 3. The base plate has an extension part 4 enabling the mitre section to be fixed to the floor by screws passing through holes 5. This mitre section will be used in combination with a naplok strip 6 which will be fitted into two parts of the channel portion 2. As shown in Figure 3, the upper edge of the channel portion 2 can have a downwardly directed nib 7 designed to hold in place the edge of the naplok strip 6.

The mitre section shown in Figure 1 is for use at a right-angled corner of a carpet. An alternative form of mitre section is shown in Figure 2 wherein the mitre 8 forms an internal angle of 90" for use in fitting carpets having a 270 return angle. The base plate 1 is then of a generally Y-shaped formation.

The mitre section may be modified, as shown in Figure 4, so that the channel portion 2 extends beyond the edges of the base plate 1, the naplok will then be inserted into the ends of the channel portion 2 only up to the edge of the base plate 1 so that the naplok is then not raised above the floor.

The constructions illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 are of designs comparable to those shown in Figures 1 and 2 respectively except that the base plate 1 and the extension portion 4 is thickened to be approximately the same height as underlay or gripper strip for the carpet. This adds to the strength of the mitre section and helps to prevent splitting of the corners of the mitre section.

In the preferred modified forms of mitre section shown in Figures 7 and 8 the base plate 1 has been formed to extend back from the ends of the channel portions 2 but with a corner of the base plate omitted, as illustrated. In both cases a thickened portion 10 or 11 is formed on part of the base plate for strengthening purposes and fixing holes 12 are also provided. The raised portions 10 and 11 also act as a guide or step to limit the extent of insertion of the naplok strips.

The use of these mitre sections avoids the necessity of manual cutting of the naplok to a special angle and provides a neat and permanently closed mitre. The mitre sections may be fixed simply at desired corners and the naploks can then be snapped onto the base plate within the channel portions 2. For most purposes, angles of 90" will be required, but the mitre section can be made to fit other angle shapes, such as 45" or 60". Also, whilst a curved channel portion 2 has been shown, other shapes may be employed to correspond to the shape of the naplok to be used, such as for square edged or angled naploks. Also, as shown for example in Figure 5, a triangular buttress 9 can be provided to give added strength at the mitre corner.

Mitre sections of the type as shown, for example, in Figures 1, 5 and 7 can be used in sets of four with pieces of naplok strip in order to create a square or oblong form in which a portion of carpeting can be secured. The total structure can then be used as a decorative item, coaster, doormat or display of carpet sample.

Claims

1. A mitre section for use with carpet naplok strips and comprising a base plate to be fixed to a floor and a channel portion projecting from the base plate and defining a predetermined angle for a corner of a carpet to be fitted, the channel portion being open at one side to receive the carpet and being shaped and dimensioned to receive and retain the ends of two naplok strips which will meet at the angle within the channel portion.

2. A mitre section according to Claim 1, wherein the upper edge of the open channel portion has a downwardly directed nib to retain the upper edges of the naplok strips.

3. A mitre section according to Claim 1 or Claim- 2, wherein a central portion of the base plate is of greater thickness than the remainder of the base plate.

4. A mitre section according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the base plate incorporates means enabling the mitre section to be fixed to a floor.

5. A mitre section according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the channel portion extends beyond the side of the base plate.

6. A mitre section according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 of a moulded or extruded form and manufactured from aluminium or other suitable metal or polypropylene, polyvinylchloride or other suitable plastics material.

7. A mitre section substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying Figures of the Drawings.

8. A carpet or carpet sample whose edges are held in place by carpet naplok strips with corner or angled parts of the carpet being protected by mitre sections of the type as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7.