US20020100561A1

US20020100561A1 - Floor laying tool

Info

Publication number: US20020100561A1
Application number: US09/837,919
Authority: US
Inventors: Spencer Costello
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-01-30
Filing date: 2001-04-18
Publication date: 2002-08-01

Abstract

A tool for installing tongue and groove flooring, such as laminate flooring planks, over a floor underlayment. The tool includes a pair of identical blocks. Each block has opposing first and second planar surfaces that are parallel to each other, a bottom edge, first and second end edges substantially perpendicular to the bottom edge, and an angled top edge. The bottom edge contains two longitudinal grooves, each groove being parallel to the adjacent planar surface. The grooves are of a size and shape adapted to receive the tongue of the tongue and groove flooring to be installed. Holes pass through the block for receiving removable fasteners which are secured to the floor underlayment during use. The process of using the tool includes placing glue into the groove of a new flooring plank to be installed. The tongues of the two adjacent, already installed planks to which the new plank is to be joined are inserted into the glued groove of the new plank. A first block is placed adjacent the new plank with the tongue of the new plank inserted into the adjacent groove located in the bottom edge of the first block. A second block is placed adjacent the first block with the angled top edges of the two blocks in contact with each other and the end edges of the two blocks being substantially in alignment. Removable fasteners, such as nails, are inserted into the holes of the second block and secured to the floor underlayment. The larger end edge of the first block is then tapped to wedge the first block tightly against the new panel. After the glue has set, the first block is removed by tapping against the smaller end edge until the first block no longer engages the second block. The second block is then removed by removing the removable fasteners from the floor underlayment.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/265,484, filed Jan. 30, 2001.[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a floor laying tool. More particularly the invention is a floor laying tool for use with laminated flooring planks.

Laminated flooring planks, sometimes called “Swedish laminates”, commonly have a width of about eight inches, a length of about four feet and a thickness of about 0.25 inch. Such planks have a woodgrain pattern printed on their upper surface. Each plank has a tongue extending from one longitudinal edge and a groove formed in the other longitudinal edge, the tongue of one plank being adapted to fit into the groove of an adjacent plank.

During installation of a new row of planks to the “bottom” of an already installed row of planks, glue is injected into the groove of the new flooring plank to be laid and the tongue of the already laid plank inserted into the groove. Although the tongue of the already laid plank can be inserted tightly into the groove of the new plank, the glue, during drying, tends to push the new plank away from the already laid plank.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool for assuring a tight fit between laminate flooring planks during installation.

The tool of the present invention is a block used in pairs, each block having a pair of opposed, parallel planar surfaces, a bottom edge, end edges perpendicular to the bottom edge, one of the end edges being shorter than the other, and an angular upper edge extending between the end edges.

A pair of parallel, longitudinal grooves extend from one end edge to the other. The grooves are spaced from their respective adjacent planar face the same distance as the tongue of a flooring plank is spaced from its adjacent planar faces, and each groove has a width and depth adapted to receive the tongue of a flooring plank.

At least two holes extend through each block from one planar face to the other, the holes being of a size adapted to receive a fastening member, such as a nail.

The process of using the floor laying tool of the present invention includes placing glue into the groove of a new flooring plank to be installed. The ends of the new flooring plank is offset from the abutting ends of two already laid planks to which the new plank is to be attached. The tongues of the two adjacent, already installed planks are inserted into the glued groove of the new plank.

A first block is placed adjacent the new plank with the tongue of the new plank inserted into the adjacent groove located in the bottom edge of the first block.

A second block is placed adjacent the first block with the angled top edges of the two blocks in contact with each other and the end edges of the two blocks being substantially in alignment. Removable fasteners, such as nails, are inserted into the holes of the second block and secured to the floor underlayment.

The larger end edge of the first block is then tapped to wedge the first block tightly against the new plank and the new plank tightly wedged against the adjacent two already laid planks. After the glue has set, the first block is removed by tapping against its smaller end edge until the first block no longer engages the second block. The second block is then removed by removing the removable fasteners from the floor underlayment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a single block of the tool of the present invention; [0013]
FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the bottom edge of a single block of the tool of the present invention; [0014]
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of two blocks in position adjacent a new flooring plank to be laid prior to the new flooring plank being fully pushed into position against an already laid plank; [0015]
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of two blocks shown in the position after the top block has been tapped into full engagement with the new flooring plank being laid; and [0016]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line [0017] 5-5 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A [0018] single block 10 of the floor laying tool of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Block 10 has opposing planar surfaces 12 and 13, ends 14 and 15, a bottom edge 16, and a top edge 17. End 14 is shorter than end 15, thereby causing top edge 17 to be angled, as shown.
A pair of parallel [0019] longitudinal grooves 18 is formed in the bottom edge 16, each groove 18 having a width and depth substantially the same as the tongue of a laminate flooring plank, and adapted to fully engage the tongue thereof. The distance between the centerline of each groove and the respective adjacent planar surface 12 or 13 is the same as the distance between the centerline of the tongue of a laminate flooring plank and the bottom planar surface of the plank. Each groove 18 has the same width and depth as the other groove 18, and the centerline of each groove 18 is the same distance from adjacent planar surface 12 or 13.
Two [0020] grooves 18 are used so that one of the two grooves will always be in alignment with the tongue of the laminate flooring plank being installed regardless of which planar surface 12 or 13 is in contact with the flooring underlayment over which the planks are being installed.
[0021] Holes 19 pass completely through block 10 substantially perpendicular to planar surfaces 12 and 13. At least two holes 19 must be present, and two holes are preferred. However, more than two holes may be used.
The operation of the laminate floor laying tool of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. [0022]
The first several rows, usually three, of laminate flooring planks are installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. The bottom row of planks, i.e., the row to which the next row will be attached, will have their longitudinal tongue edge exposed. [0023]
A [0024] new plank 20 to be laid has a longitudinal groove 21 adapted to receive the tongue of the already laid bottom plank (not shown). Glue is inserted into groove 21 and plank 20 pushed in place against the already laid plank so that its tongue enters groove 21.
Two blocks, [0025] 10 and 110, are then positioned into place as shown in FIG. 3. Block 110 is identical to block 10 described above, the identical parts of block 110 having the same reference numbers as those of block 10 but increased by 100. Blocks 10 and 110 are positioned so that bottom edges 16 and 116 containing grooves 18 and 118, respectively, face outward.
The [0026] tongue 22 of plank 20 is inserted fully into groove 118 of block 110. Block 10 is then placed adjacent block 110 with angled upper edge 17 of block 10 being in abutment with angled upper edge 117 of block 110, blocks 10 and 110 forming a rectangle with ends 14 and 115 and ends 15 and 114 of blocks 10 and 110, respectively, being in substantial alignment.
Removable fasteners, such as [0027] nails 30, are then placed into holes 19 and driven into the subflooring with the tops of nail 30 left extending above the planar surface 12 of block 10 a distance adapted to allow for easy withdrawal of the nails after completion of installation of plank 20. Preferably, double headed nails are used to insure easy removal. Other types of removable fasteners, such as screws, may be used instead of nails.
A hammer is then used to tap [0028] end 115 of block 110 which slides to the left (in the direction of the large arrow in FIG. 4) to the position shown in FIG. 4. As block 110 is tapped to the left, angled surfaces 17 and 117 causes block 110 to act as a wedge pushing upwardly against laminate plank 20 (in the direction of the small arrows in FIG. 4). This wedging action pushes the seams of the laminate planks together, creating a tight fit therebetween.
[0029] Blocks 10 and 110 are left in place a period of time which allows the glue to set, generally at least about five minutes.
[0030] Blocks 10 and 110 are removed by tapping end 114 of block 110, which causes block 110 to move to the right (as shown) and completely out of contact with block 10. Nails 30 are then withdrawn from block 10, and blocks 10 and 110 are ready to be used again on another new plank to be laid.
[0031] Blocks 10 and 110 may also be used on the ends of laminate flooring planks (which also have transverse tongues on one end thereof) to help hold the planks in place.
Although the floor laying tool of the present invention has been described relative to laying laminate flooring planks that are elongated, the tool may also be used to lay parquet flooring, and used to lay other types of flooring employing a tongue and groove assembly arrangement, all of which types of flooring are intended to be included within the definition of “planks”. [0032]
[0033] Blocks 10 and 110 may be made of any rigid material, such as wood, metal or plastic. A suitable plastic material is ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.
It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments of this invention without departing from the underlying principles thereof. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims. [0034]

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. A tool for installing tongue and groove flooring planks on a floor underlayment, said planks having upper and lower planar surfaces, comprising:

first and second identical blocks, each said block including:

opposing first and second planar surfaces, said first and second planar surfaces being parallel to each other, a bottom edge, first and second end edges substantially perpendicular to said bottom edge, the length of said first end edge being less than the length of said second end edge, and an angled top edge extending between said first and second end edges;

first and second longitudinal grooves in said bottom edge adjacent said first and second planar surfaces, respectively, said first and second longitudinal grooves being parallel to said planar surfaces and to each other, each of said first and second longitudinal grooves having a width and depth adapted to fully and slidingly engage said tongue of said flooring plank, the centerline of said first and second longitudinal grooves being spaced from its respective adjacent planar surface a distance substantially the same as the distance between the centerline of said tongue and said lower planar surface of said flooring plank;

at least two holes passing through each of said blocks;

said first block adapted to be positioned adjacent a flooring plank to be installed with said tongue of said plank inserted into one of said grooves in sliding engagement therewith, said second block adapted to be placed adjacent said first block with the angled top edge of said first block in contact with the angled top edge of said second block and with the end edges of said first and second blocks being substantially in alignment, said holes in said second block being adapted to receive a removable fastener for securing said second block to said floor underlayment.

2. A block adapted to be used with a second identical block for installing tongue and groove flooring planks on a floor underlayment, said planks having upper and lower planar surfaces, said block comprising:

first and second longitudinal grooves in said bottom edge adjacent said first and second planar surfaces, respectively, said first and second longitudinal grooves being parallel to said planar surfaces and to each other, each of said first and second longitudinal grooves having a width and depth adapted to fully and slidingly engage said tongue of said flooring plank, the centerline of said first and second longitudinal grooves being spaced from its respective adjacent planar surface a distance substantially the same as the distance between the centerline of said tongue and said lower planar surface of said flooring plank; and

at least two holes passing through each of said blocks and adapted to receive a removable fastener.

3. In the process of installing over a floor underlayment a new row of tongue and groove flooring planks to the bottom row of tongue and groove flooring planks already installed upon said floor underlayment, said planks in said bottom row having a tongue extending from the outer longitudinal edge thereof, inserting glue into the groove of the new plank to be installed, inserting the tongues of the adjacent already installed planks into the groove of the new plank, and permitting the glue to set, the improvement comprising:

placing the bottom edge of a first block of claim 2 adjacent said tongue of one of said new planks and inserting said tongue into the adjacent longitudinal groove in said bottom edge of said first block;

placing a second block of claim 2 adjacent said first block with the angled top edge of said first block in contact with the angled top edge of said second block and with said end edges of said first and second locks being substantially in alignment;

securing said second block to said floor underlayment by passing removable fasteners through said holes in said second block and securing said removable fasteners to said floor underlayment;

causing said second end edge of said first block to be moved in a direction towards said second end edge of said second block a distance adapted to force said groove of said new plank into tight engagement with the tongues of adjacent already laid planks;

leaving said first and second blocks in position for a time sufficient to allow said glue to set;

causing the first edge of said first block to be moved in a direction towards said first edge of said second block until said first block no longer tightly engages said new plank; and

removing the removable fasteners holding said second block to said floor underlayment.