US20060043232A1

US20060043232A1 - Material-laying device

Info

Publication number: US20060043232A1
Application number: US10/931,424
Authority: US
Inventors: Carlos Teheran
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-01
Filing date: 2004-09-01
Publication date: 2006-03-02

Abstract

A device for laying a material roll includes a pair of substantially identical end rollers each having a spindle portion with an exterior surface to be inserted into a guide tube of the roll, an end portion, and a rotating connection rotatably connecting the spindle to the end portion. A connection handle connects to the end portions for exerting a force on the rollers for rolling out the material. A set of differently sized spindles each removably connected to the spindle portion can be provided to form a material-laying kit. A method for laying out the roll of material is also provided and includes inserting the spindle portions into each guide tube hollow end, placing the roll upon a surface, and pulling on the connection device in the desired rollout direction to, thereby, roll out the material on the surface in the desired direction.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention
The invention lies in the field of material dispensing devices. In particular, the invention is in the field of devices that lay a sheet of material down along a path, in particular, along a path on which a person is to walk.
Photographers, decorators, and individuals getting ready to receive dignitaries and the like, and carpet laying professionals have all experienced the problem of laying down a rolled up piece of material in a straight line. For example, “rolling out the red carpet” for a famous person has long held the problem of rolling out the material in a smooth, straight line. This is also true for photographers and decorators who roll out a sheet for a bridal party to walk on. Uneven layout is caused by the fact that a rolled up piece of material does not naturally roll out in a straight line if one end of the material is held while the remainder is pushed away from the held end in an attempt to roll the material out flat.
Also, rolling out a rolled up piece of material typically requires the user to kneel down and push the upper portion of the roll away from the user while holding down the end or allowing the end to naturally stick to the surface on which it is to be rolled due to friction between the surface and the material. As the material is rolled out, the user is required to straighten the rolled out portion of the material continuously and, in doing so, is required to crawl along the material—thus, causing discomfort to the user and further wrinkles to the already laid-out material on which the user is crawling. Uneven rollout occurs because the roll is not being held evenly and aligned on both ends when the user thrusts the roll out away from himself/herself.
FIG. 1 illustrates a typical roll of material 1, for example, a white linen bridal walkway. The material is, generally, more than 15 meters long and can have a length of greater than 25 meters in some cases. The material can be 1 meter wide or even three meters wide (3 to 9 feet wide). Thus, even for low weight fabrics, a roll of such material can be greater than 100 pounds. This means that two people are needed to roll out the material, as shown in FIG. 2, and, because each person rolls out the material at non-equal speed, the material and, therefore, the roll, need to be continuously adjusted.
In instances where the material is not able to form an even, tubular, inner cavity when rolled upon itself, a guide tube 2 is needed. The guide tube 2 is, typically, of cardboard and is hollow. Accordingly, before rollout, an end of the material 1 is held onto the guide tube 2 (or attached thereto) and the guide tube 2 is rotated to roll the material 1 thereon to form the ready-to-roll-out object that is shown in FIG. 1. If the material 1 is carpet, for example, then a guide tube 2 becomes optional because carpet has the ability to roll upon itself and form a substantially smooth cylindrical cavity therein. Accordingly, when “guide tube” is used herein, it refers to both the separate guide tube 2 or to the inner cavity created by the rolled-up configuration of the material 1.
It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a device that insures smooth, straight rollout of the material from a roll of the material and that does not present to the user a difficult position for rollout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a material-laying device that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that insures smooth, straight roll-out of the material from a roll of the material and that does not present to the user a difficult position for roll-out.
As used herein, “material” can be any thing that is rolled up along a longitudinal axis and is to be rolled out in a relatively straight line. For example, a white runner of fabric that is to form the walkway for a bridal party. Material can also refer to a red carpet that is to form the walkway for a dignitary or other person of importance. Material can also include standard carpet that is to be rolled out onto a surface on which it is to be laid in a straight line so that the adjacent carpet roll will line up with one edge of the already laid carpet. Also included in the scope of material is roofing paper. These are only exemplary embodiments for material and are merely set forth as illustrations.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a device for laying a roll of material having a guide tube, including a pair of substantially identical end rollers each having a spindle portion having an exterior surface to be inserted into the guide tube of the roll of material, an end portion, and a rotating connection rotatably connecting the spindle portion to the end portion, and a connection handle connected to each of the end portions of the end rollers for exerting a force on the end rollers to, thereby, roll out the material.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the spindle portion has an interior spindle and an exterior spindle.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the interior spindle has a given diameter and the exterior spindle has a diameter larger than the given diameter.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the interior and exterior spindles have different outer surfaces sizes for accommodating thereon differently sized guide tubes.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, each of the interior and exterior spindles is tapered, preferably, growing in diameter in a direction from the spindle portion to the end portion. In particular, each of the interior and exterior spindles has a tapering outer surface growing in diameter in a direction from the spindle portion to the end portion.
In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the exterior spindle has an interior lateral wall forming an end stop adjacent the interior spindle for preventing passage of the guide tube onto the exterior spindle.
In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, the interior and exterior spindles are integral in a single spindle, which is, preferably, tapered.
In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, the spindle portion has an end stop with a diameter larger than a largest diameter of a remainder of the spindle portion.
In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, there is provided an add-on spindle removably connected to the spindle portion In accordance with again another feature of the invention, there is provided a set of differently sized add-on spindles each shaped to be removably connected to the spindle portion.
In accordance with again a further feature of the invention, the end rollers are of plastic.
In accordance with again an added feature of the invention, the rotating connection is a press-fit connector, a rivet, a bolt and nut assembly, a two-surface screw, a boss, a roller bearing, and/or a post.
In accordance with again an additional feature of the invention, the material can be linen, fabric, plastic, carpet, paper, and/or roofing paper.
In accordance with still another feature of the invention, each of the end portions has a pulling end and the connection handle is connected to the pulling end.
With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a device for laying a roll of material having a guide tube with an interior diameter, including a pair of substantially identical end rollers each having a spindle portion having an interior spindle having an exterior surface to be inserted into a guide tube of a first roll of material having a first interior diameter and an exterior spindle having an exterior surface to be inserted into a guide tube of a second roll of material having a second internal diameter greater than the first internal diameter, an end portion, and a rotating connection rotatably connecting a part of the spindle portion to the end portion, and a connection handle connected to both of the end portions of the pair of end rollers for exerting a force on the end rollers to, thereby, roll out the material.
With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a material-laying device kit, including a device for laying a roll of material having a guide tube, the device having a pair of substantially identical end rollers each having a spindle portion with an exterior surface to be inserted into the guide tube, an end portion, and a rotating connection rotatably connecting the spindle portion to the end portion, and a connection handle connected to both of the end portions of the pair of end rollers for exerting a force on the end rollers to, thereby, roll out the material, and a set of differently-sized add-on spindles each shaped to be removably connected to the spindle portion.
With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a method for laying out a roll of material on a surface in a desired rollout direction, the roll of material having a guide tube with hollow ends, the method including the steps of providing a material-laying device with end rollers having rotating spindle portions and a connection device connected to each of the end rollers, inserting the spindle portions into each hollow end of the guide tube, and placing the roll of material upon the surface and pulling on the connection device in the desired rollout direction to, thereby, roll out the material on the surface in the desired roll-out direction.
In accordance with still a further mode of the invention, the spindle portions rotate along with the roll of material while the end portions remain substantially rotationally stable.
In accordance with still an added mode of the invention, a length of the connection device is adjusted according to a user's desired preference.
In accordance with a concomitant mode of the invention, a user walks in the desired rollout direction while dragging therebehind the material laying-device connected to the roll of material to roll out the material.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a material-laying device, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art roll of material with a guide tube;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatic illustration of two individuals rolling out the roll of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the material-laying device according to the invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a roller of the material-laying device of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic illustration of the material-laying device of FIGS. 3 and 4 in use;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a roller of the material-laying device of FIG. 3 with a first embodiment of a removable spindle adapter according to the invention and a second embodiment of a connection device according to the invention; and
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a roller of the material-laying device of FIG. 3 with a second embodiment of a removable spindle adapter according to the invention and a third embodiment of a connection device according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4 thereof, there is shown a first embodiment of a material-laying device 10 according to the invention. The device 10 includes a pair of substantially identical end rollers 20 and a connection cord 30.
Each of the end rollers 20 has a spindle portion 21 rotatably attached to an end portion 23. The rotating connection 25 between the spindle portion 21 and the end portion 23 can take any form that allows the spindle portion 21 to rotate about its longitudinal axis 27 while the end portion 23 remains rotatably fixed (or vice-versa). Exemplary connections 25 are shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7.
The connection cord 30 is fixed to a pulling end 231 of the end portion 23 in any desired way. For example, the pulling end 231 can define a hole 232 in which an end of the cord 30 is inserted and tied off so that the inserted end of the cord 30 cannot be removed therefrom. In such an embodiment, a simple way to connect the cord 30 and the pulling end 231 is to thread the end of the cord 30 through the hole 232 and to tie a knot in the end of the cord 30, the knot having bigger diameter than the diameter of the hole 232. See, e.g., FIGS. 3 and 5. Any other connection is possible, including making the cord 30 integral with the end portion 23. The connection cord 30 can be sized to any length desired by a user as explained in further detail below.
To use the material-laying device 10, the spindle portions 21 of the end rollers 20 are inserted (removably press-fit) into a respective end of the guide tube 2, as shown in FIG. 5. The spindle portions 21 are, therefore, rotationally fixed to the guide tube 2 such that, when the guide tube 2 rotates, the spindle portions 21 rotate along with the guide tube 2 while the end portions 23 remain relatively rotationally stable.
After the spindle portions 21 are removably rotationally fixed in the guide tube 2 and the cord 30 is adjusted to the user's desired length, rolling out of the material 1 is accomplished in a very simple manner. The user merely finds a center point of the cord 30 with his/her finger/hand and slowly walks in a desired rollout direction (see arrow A in FIG. 5) while dragging the device 10, along with the material 1 and guide tube 2, therebehind. One skilled in the art will appreciate that a loose holding of the approximate center point of the cord 30 by the user mechanically acts as a self-adjusting pulley. In such a configuration, each end of the guide tube 2 receives an equal pulling force that automatically adjusts as the user moves. As both ends of the guide tube 2 receive an equal pulling (i.e., rolling out) force, the material 1 is rolled out in a straight line along the surface on which the roll of material 1 is placed.
The user can selectively size the cord 30 in a customized way to a length that is most comfortable to that particular user. Setting the length of the cord 30 can be performed by placing the roll of material 1 on the ground and holding an approximate center point of the cord 30 in the user's hand with the user turning around to face a direction away from the roll of material 1 and the device 10 therein. In such an orientation, the user can determine if the cord 30 is at a comfortable height for pulling the roll of material 1 behind. If the cord 30 is too short, then the user would be required to bend down too far for pulling the roll of material 1. In such a case, the user would lengthen the cord 30. If the cord 30 is too long, then the roll of material 1 would trail behind the user at an undesirably far distance if pulled. In such a case, the user would shorten the cord 30.
A preferred adjustment device is similar to the spring-loaded adjusters found on conventional water bottle holders and sport pack/luggage items. Such an adjuster has a body defining an interior cavity that permits passage therethrough of two (or more) lengths of the cord 30 and that has a spring-loaded piston defining a piston interior coaxially disposed with the interior cavity of the adjuster and extending in a direction orthogonal to the piston actuating direction. The piston is biased in a direction that clamps the lengths of the cord 30 against the adjuster interior wall when a user is not operating the piston. When operated, the piston moves in a direction orthogonal to the lengths of the cord 30 and aligns the piston interior with the interior cavity of the adjuster body. Such alignment allows the portions of the cord 30 disposed therein to slide easily with respect to the adjuster.
The exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 show that each end roller 20 has an interior spindle 22 and an exterior spindle 24. The spindles 22, 24 have different diameters to accommodate different sized cavities inside the guide tube 2. The interior spindle 22 has a diameter to accommodate a relatively smaller guide tube cavity and the exterior spindle 24 has a diameter to accommodate a relatively larger guide tube cavity. For example, the interior spindle 22 can have a smallest outer diameter of 15/16″ and the exterior spindle 24 can have a smallest outer diameter of 1 7/16″. Each spindle diameter can be sized to fit in a guide tube 2 most used by the user, for example.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, two spindles 22, 24 are shown. However, more spindles can be added successively to the interior side 221 of the interior spindle 22 in a direction extending from the exterior spindle 24 towards the interior spindle 22 along the longitudinal axis 27. The total length of the roller 20 along the longitudinal axis 27 and the number of spindles is dependent upon the innermost spindle's ability to remain retained in the guide tube 2 when used. If the total length of the spindle portion 21 is too long, then, when the user pulls upon the end portion 23, the torque created by the force on the lever arm of the spindle portion 21 will displace the part of the spindle portion 21 located inside the guide tube 2 out from the guide tube 2. Such a situation is not desirable. Accordingly, the longitudinal length of each spindle 22, 24, . . . on the spindle portion 21 can decrease (linearly, exponentially, or in any other way) from the outer-most spindle (24) towards the innermost spindle (22 or spindles further inward). All that is needed when selecting the number of spindles or the longitudinal length thereof is for the device 10 to stay attached to the roll of material 1 as the user pulls the combination behind him/her to unroll the material 1. Even though a preferred longitudinal length of the spindles 22, 24 is 1½″, there is no requirement for the spindles 22, 24, . . . to have equal lengths along the longitudinal axis 27.
The spindles 22, 24 are, preferably, configured to hold the interior of the guide tube 2 tightly. To do so, as shown in FIG. 4, each of the spindles 22, 24 is tapered—growing in outer diameter in an outward/exterior direction, i.e., from a smaller outer diameter to a larger outer diameter. Such a configuration allows the spindles 22, 24 to fit snugly in the cavity of the guide tube 2 and to allow for diametrical tolerances when the cavity is slightly larger or smaller than the expected size. The tapered configuration also allows for easier insertion into the guide tube 2.
In a preferred configuration, the spindle portion 21 also has an end stop 26 with a diameter larger than the largest guide tube cavity that is to receive the spindle portion 21 therein, for example, 1 15/16″. The interior wall 261 of the end stop 26 forms a bearing wall 261 having the same function as the interior wall 241 of the exterior spindle portion 24. Simply put, as a guide tube 2 is placed on the interior spindle 22, the interior wall 241 acts as a stop preventing further passage of the guide tube 2 onto the interior spindle 22. Likewise, as a larger guide tube 2 is placed on the exterior spindle 24, the interior wall 261 acts as an end stop preventing further passage of the guide tube 2 onto the exterior spindle 24.
The embodiment of the material-laying device 10 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 is limited to guide tubes 2 having relatively similar interior cavities. Simply put, if only two spindles 22, 24 are provided, then only two sized guide tubes 2 can be used with the device 10. Of course, the pitch of the spindle taper (see FIG. 4) can be relatively steep to accommodate a different range of differently sized guide tubes 2 than that illustrated in FIG. 4. Also, the two spindles 22, 24 can be combined into one long tapered spindle that can accommodate a range of guide tube 2 sizes, for example, the combined non-illustrated spindle can have a 15/16″ (or smaller) diameter at the interior end to 1½″(or greater) near the exterior thereof. Each of these variations is possible for the present invention, however, in practice, guide tube 2 sizes are relatively well known and, therefore, standard spindles 22, 24 can be customized to the user's desires.
To expand the range of user-customized spindles or standard-sized spindles, alternative embodiments are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Specifically, a set of differently sized add-on spindles 40, 50 can be added to the spindle portion 21 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. A first spindle adapter 40 can be attached removably to the spindle portion 21 to give the user two spindles in addition to spindles 22, 24, both of which having a diameter larger than the exterior spindle 24. Alternatively, a second spindle adapter 50 can be attached removably to the spindle portion 21, primarily (but not necessarily) around the exterior spindle 24, to give the user a third spindle 50 having a diameter larger than the exterior spindle 24. Of course, adapters such as those shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 can be made to have any size, including diameters between the diameters of the exterior and interior spindles 24, 22 and diameters even smaller than the interior spindle 22.
All portions 21, 23, and 25 of the material-laying device 10 are, preferably, of plastic for low cost and easy production. Also, plastic materials allow for elastic, non-breaking movement when press-fits are used, such as those shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Being of plastic allows the spindles to be easily produced with a roughened outer surface, which surface grips cardboard guide tubes 2 very well.
A first example of the connection device 25 for the spindle portion 21 and the end portion 23 is shown in FIG. 4. This connection device 25 is a dumbbell-shaped press-fit connector 25. The axle and a first head are connected integrally and the other head is press-fit on to the end of the axle opposite the integral first head. The axle is smooth on an exterior thereof, permitting the spindle portion 21, the end portion 23, and the connection device 25 to rotate freely with respect to one another. This connection device 25 can be made entirely of plastic. This connector 25 can also take the form of a rivet, a bolt and nut assembly, or other similar assemblies.
A second example of the connection device 25 is shown in FIG. 6. Here, the connection device 25 is a two-surface screw 25 having a non-threaded surface portion about which the end portion 23 rotates freely, and a threaded surface portion that rotationally fixedly connects the spindle portion 21 to the screw 25. As the spindle portion 21 rotates, the screw 25 rotates with it and the end portion 23 remains rotationally uncoupled from the screw-spindle system. While the screw 25 can be of plastic, it can be metal as well and, due to the wide availability and low cost of producing metal screws, use of metal in this case does not add significant production and/or material costs.
A third example of the connection device 25 is shown in FIG. 7. Here, the connection device 25 is a boss or post 262 extending from the exterior surface 263 of the end stop 26 and into a hole 231 in the end portion 23. The outer circumference of the boss 262 is smooth, allowing the end portion 23 to rotate freely thereon or to allow the boss 262 to rotate freely within the hole. The exterior-most portion of the boss 262 can be a chamfered post on which the hole 231 of the end portion 23 can be press-fit. Alternatively, the boss 262 can have an interior bore in which a non-illustrated screw can be threaded, the screw having a head (or washer) with a diameter greater than the diameter of the hole 231. These embodiments can all be of plastic.
The three above-mentioned examples are only illustrative of the rotatable connection between the spindle portion 21 and the end portion 23. Any combination of other connection possibilities can be employed, including, but not limited to, reversal of the location of the boss 262 and hole 231, e.g., by placing the boss on an interior surface of the end portion, the boss extending in an interior direction, and forming a hole in the center of the exterior surface of the end stop 26 to receive the boss therein. Because the typical size of a guide tube 2 is relatively large, the center cavity of the spindle portion can be made large enough to receive an end portion boss therein without compromising the structural integrity of the spindle portion 21. Of course, the spindle portion 21 can be made of metal, in which case, a larger interior cavity will have virtually no adverse affect on the spindle portion 21.
In a more complex configuration, the end portion 23 and the end stop 26 can be integral with a rod extending inwardly from the end stop 26. The interior spindle 22 can be rotationally freely connected to the rod by an intermediately disposed ball-bearing assembly, and the exterior spindle 24 can be rotationally freely connected to the rod or to the interior spindle 22 by a second ball-bearing assembly disposed therebetween.
The terms “interior” and “exterior” have been used herein with respect to the spindle portion 21, the end stop 26, and the end portion 23 in some cases in a way different from, for example, inside and outside of a box. When used in this manner, these terms relate to a direction along the longitudinal axis 27 with respect to the end rollers 20 when attached to the roll of material 1 with the guide tube 2. If a part is described as “interior,” then it is relatively closer to the center point of the assembly including the two end rollers 20, the roll of material 1, and the guide tube 2.
If a part is described as “exterior,” then it is relatively further away from the center point of that assembly.

Claims

1. A device for laying a roll of material having a guide tube, comprising:

a pair of substantially identical end rollers each having:

a spindle portion having an exterior surface to be inserted into the guide tube of the roll of material;

an end portion; and

a rotating connection rotatably connecting said spindle portion to said end portion; and

a connection handle connected to each of said end portions of said end rollers for exerting a force on said end rollers to, thereby, roll out the material.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said spindle portion has an interior spindle and an exterior spindle.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein:

said interior spindle has a given diameter; and

said exterior spindle has a diameter larger than said given diameter.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein said interior and exterior spindles have different outer surfaces sizes for accommodating thereon differently sized guide tubes.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein each of said interior and exterior spindles is tapered.

6. The device according to claim 2, wherein each of said interior and exterior spindles is tapered growing in diameter in a direction from said spindle portion to said end portion.

7. The device according to claim 2, wherein each of said interior and exterior spindles has a tapering outer surface growing in diameter in a direction from said spindle portion to said end portion.

8. The device according to claim 2, wherein said exterior spindle has an interior lateral wall forming an end stop adjacent said interior spindle for preventing passage of the guide tube onto said exterior spindle.

9. The device according to claim 2, wherein said interior and exterior spindles are integral in a single spindle.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein said single spindle is tapered.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein said spindle portion has an end stop with a diameter larger than a largest diameter of a remainder of said spindle portion.

12. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an add-on spindle removably connected to said spindle portion

13. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a set of differently-sized add-on spindles each shaped to be removably connected to said spindle portion.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein said end rollers are of plastic.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein said rotating connection is selected from at least one of the group consisting of a press-fit connector, a rivet, a bolt and nut assembly, a two-surface screw, a boss, a roller bearing, and a post.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the material is selected from at least one of the group consisting of linen, fabric, plastic, carpet, paper, and roofing paper.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

each of said end portions has a pulling end; and

said connection handle is connected to said pulling end.

18. A device for laying a roll of material having a guide tube with an interior diameter, comprising:

a pair of substantially identical end rollers each having:

a spindle portion having:

an interior spindle having an exterior surface to be inserted into a guide tube of a first roll of material having a first interior diameter; and

an exterior spindle having an exterior surface to be inserted into a guide tube of a second roll of material having a second internal diameter greater than said first internal diameter;

an end portion; and

a rotating connection rotatably connecting a part of said spindle portion to said end portion; and

a connection handle connected to both of said end portions of said pair of end rollers for exerting a force on said end rollers to, thereby, roll out the material.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein at least one of said interior and exterior spindles is tapered growing in diameter in a direction from said spindle portion to said end portion.

20. A material-laying device kit, comprising:

a device for laying a roll of material having a guide tube, said device having:

a pair of substantially identical end rollers each having:

a spindle portion with an exterior surface to be inserted into the guide tube;

an end portion; and

a connection handle connected to both of said end portions of said pair of end rollers for exerting a force on said end rollers to, thereby, roll out the material; and

a set of differently sized add-on spindles each shaped to be removably connected to said spindle portion.

21. A method for laying out a roll of material on a surface in a desired rollout direction, the roll of material having a guide tube with hollow ends, the method which comprises:

providing a material-laying device with:

end rollers having rotating spindle portions; and

a connection device connected to each of the end rollers;

inserting the spindle portions into each hollow end of the guide tube; and

placing the roll of material upon the surface and pulling on the connection device in the desired rollout direction to, thereby, roll out the material on the surface in the desired rollout direction.

22. The method according to claim 21, which further comprises rotating the spindle portions along with the roll of material while the end portions remain substantially rotationally stable.

23. The method according to claim 21, which further comprises adjusting a length of the connection device according to a user's desired preference.

24. The method according to claim 21, which further comprises walking in the desired rollout direction while dragging therebehind the material laying-device connected to the roll of material.