Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02497976 2005-03-18
THE E-Z SPACER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus used largely for the assistance of
installing flooring
systems. This apparatus is mainly used to provide adequate spacing between the
walls and the
floorboards or planks being installed to allow for proper expansion gap.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is mainly used for, but not restricted to, the assistance of
installing flooring
systems including, but not limited to, subfloor systems, hardwood flooring,
laminate flooring and
other types of engineered flooring. Flooring systems generally involve
floorboards, planks or panels
to be joined or locked into each other, usually with some variation of a
tongue-and-groove system.
The manufacturers of these flooring systems all recommend an expansion gap
between the
floorboards and the walls, pipes and other various obstacles to allow for the
expansion and
contraction of the material being installed.
One of the existing spacers is comprised of plastic formed in the shape of a
wedge, 2'/4 inches in
height and 1 3/8 inch in width. The spacer has a thickness of 3/8 inch at one
end and tapers down
and slopes down to the other end, which is only 1/8 inch thick. There axe
ridges found on the sloped
surface to allow for two spacers to be combined together, to create a larger
expansion gap. The
problem with this design is that the spacer can get wedged or jammed between
the floorboards and
the wall, making it extremely difficult to remove and can damage the walls and
the planks when
attempting to pull it out. The force exerted when joining the floorboards
together can also cause the
edge of the floorboard to cut into the plastic spacer, making it even more
difficult to remove. The
small awkward shape of the spacer does not give the user enough to hold onto
with their fingers
while trying to wiggle or force it out and often requires a significant amount
of force to remove it. It
would obviously be desirable to eliminate the difficulties of trying to pull
out a wedged spacer and
avoiding damaging the planks and the walls as well as avoiding injury to the
user's fingers.
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The second spacer that is available is made of wood and cut into rectangular
pieces, 2'/4 inches in
height, 1'/z inch in width and approximately 3/8 inch thick. The problem with
this spacer is that the
wood conforms to the edge of the plank from the force exerted to install the
floorboards causing it to
stay jammed making it problematic to pull out.
The third spacer that is available, is made of plastic in a C-shape that is
3/8 inches thick on one
end of the C and '/4 inches thick on the opposite end of the C. This unique C-
shape is designed to
allow the user either a'/4 inch expansion gap or a 3/8 inch expansion gap
while allowing the user to
easily pull the spacer out if it wedges between the floorboard and the wall.
The problem with this
design is that the C-shape falls over before the board is put in place,
forcing the user to constantly go
back to try to keep the C-shaped spacer upright while attempting to install
the floorboards. It would
be preferred that the spacer be able to stand upright while installing the
floorboards to prevent the
spacer from falling over before the floorboards are installed in place.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The general objective of the present invention is to provide an improved
spacer for the
installation of flooring systems with unique features to allow for adequate
expansion gap for the
flooring system, greater control during installation and easy removal of the
spacers once the
installation is complete.
In accordance with the invention, this objective is attained with a
rectangular spacer made of
rigid PVC plastic, 3 '/4 inches in height, 1 '/Z inches in width, and '/4 inch
thick with two key features.
The extra height allows for better leverage when removing the spacers after
installation while also
providing enough space for a circular opening, 7/8 inches in diameter, on the
top portion of the
spacer. The circular opening allows for better stability and grip when
removing the spacer and the
diameter is large enough to accommodate the user to easily remove the spacer
by placing their
finger or fingertip into the circular opening and lifting it out with minimal
effort. This eliminates
the need to wiggle or force out the wedged spacer possibly damaging the walls
or injuring the
fingers.
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The circular opening also provides easy storage since the user can loop
together with a rope,
string, a clamp or other fastening system. This eliminates the possibility of
losing the spacers after
installations as well as creating a neat and organized way of putting them
away and taking them out
when needed.
The second feature to the spacer is its 45° beveled edges that occur
along the 3'/4 inch upright
height of the spacer along the corners. Typically, spacers have a 90°
edge, which protrudes out
sharply at the corners, causing the spacer to get jammed from the force
exerted on the spacers from
the installation of the floorboards, making it very difficult to remove. This
beveled edge does not
allow for the flooring material to get stuck into the edges from the force
exerted on the spacers since
the edges are at a 45° versus the typical 90°. The beveled edge
allows the spacer to be pulled out
much easier since it reduces the chance of the floorboard cutting into the
corners of the spacers.
This invention is easy to use as complicated instructions or directions are
not required, just grab
the spacer, place the spacer with the circular opening above the level of the
floor, install the floors
and remove with ease by lifting out the spacer with the finger.
This invention can be manufactured in plastic, metal and other materials that
can withstand the
exerted force without breaking or chipping. This invention can also be made in
various lengths,
widths, thickness and shape. The opening for the finger can be round, square
or other numerous
geometrical shapes and the beveled angle can vary, even rounded if desired.
