Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPARATUS FOR REMOVING A FLEXIBLE
FLOOR COVERING FROM A FLOOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing a flexible
floor covering from
a floor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Soft flexible coverings, such as carpets and resilient floor coverings
(i.e. linoleum and
vinyl) are generally provided in large rolls, which are unrolled during
installation. To ensure that
they are properly secured in place, these floor coverings are stapled or glued
on the floor or
subfloor. As a consequence, such coverings are often difficult to remove from
the floor should
the need for replacement or renovation arise.
[0003] Several attempts have been made to develop special equipment to
facilitate the removal
of such flexible floor coverings. Examples of such devices can be found in the
prior art under
U.S. Patent Nos. 5,387,308, 4,906,323, 5,909,868 and 6,840,299. The foregoing
patents
generally describe devices for manually detaching a carpet from a floor. These
devices all have
gripping portions for grippingly engaging the carpet. The carpet may then be
detached from the
floor by pulling the grip, either directly or via a lever mechanism. The use
of these systems tends
to require the application of physical strength which is generally not
preferred.
[0004] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,348,608 and 5,456,794 generally disclose systems for
stripping carpets
that include a grip for gripping a portion of the carpet, a base on which is
mounted a winch and a
wire connecting the grip to the winch. To operate these systems, the winch is
activated, pulling
the grip toward the base thereby causing the carpet to be stripped off. While
generally
satisfactory, the configuration of these systems does raise certain safety
concerns. More
specifically, there is a risk that the wire may snap during use. In addition,
these systems need to
be relocated constantly to strip the carpet at different locations on the
floor. As a consequence,
these systems have to be shut down frequently which tends to adversely affect
their efficiency.
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[0005] U.S. Patent Nos. 6,199,616 and 6,004,426 disclose a carpet stripping
apparatus that has a
frame, a spool-like roller on which may be wound a portion of stripped carpet,
and a gripping
member attached to the roll for grippingly engaging a portion of carpet. The
roll is supported on
the frame for rotational movement about a generally horizontal axis. The
carpet stripping
apparatus is further provided with a motor for driving rotation of the roll.
In operation, the roll is
driven to rotate with its gripping member grippingly engaging a portion of
carpet to be, removed.
As the roll rotates, a strip or band-like portion of the carpet is detached
from the floor. The band
of stripped carpet is wound about the roll. As more carpet is wound about the
roll, its diameter
and more importantly, its weight increase thereby requiring more operating
power and increasing
energy consumption. On some premises or job sites, the voltage required to
operate these devices
may not be conveniently available. In addition, when the roll diameter becomes
excessively
large, it will be necessary to stop the apparatus to remove the carpet from
the roll. This operation
tends to be time-consuming and labour intensive.
[0006] U.S. Patent Nos. 4,948,451 and 5,415,725 disclose carpet removing
apparatus that
generally include a frame, and a pair of rolls rotatably mounted between the
spaced apart
sidewalls of the frame. The rolls are disposed very close to each other in a
tandem arrangement.
The space between the rolls is sized so as to receive a portion of carpet. A
motor is further
provided for driving rotation of one of the rolls. In operation a portion of
the carpet is inserted in
the space between the rolls and is captively retained therewithin. The motor
is then actuated to
thereby cause rotation of the driven roll. As the roll rotates, the portion of
carpet within the
space is pulled away from the floor.
[0007] Although this type of device provides an interesting alternative to the
earlier described
carpet stripping devices, their configuration may pose certain safety hazards
for operators of the
devices. For instance, loose clothing may get caught between the rolls during
operation thereby
causing a worksite accident. Additionally, the frames of these machines tend
to be relatively
heavy to resist the high forces exerted by the rolls. As a result, these
devices tend to be difficult
to transport and handle.
[0008] Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an apparatus for removing
flexible floor
coverings that is safe, easy to transport and handle and that has relatively
modest energy
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consumption requirements. A carpet stripping device capable of removing a
large portion of
carpet or other flexible floor covering without the need for constant work
stoppage or
repositioning would be especially desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
100091 According to a broad aspect of an embodiment of the present invention,
there is provided
an apparatus for removing a flexible floor covering from a floor. The
apparatus includes a frame
supported on a plurality of castors to allow rolling motion of the frame along
the floor. A roller is
supported on the frame for rotational motion relative thereto. The roller has
an axis of rotation
disposed substantially parallel to the floor when the apparatus is in use. A
drive assembly is
operatively connected to the roller for rotatively driving the roller. The
apparatus further includes
gripping means carried on the roller for grippingly engaging a portion of the
flexible floor
covering. Also provided is a grip releasing means for urging the gripping
means to disengage
from the portion of the flexible floor covering after the flexible floor
covering has been detached
from the floor. The grip releasing means is mounted to the frame and disposed
adjacent the
roller. The grip releasing means is operable to discourage the portion of the
flexible floor
covering from being wound about the roller.
[0010] In an additional feature, the frame includes a pair of spaced apart,
first and second
longitudinal frame members and a cross-member extending between the frame
members to join
the first frame member to the second frame member. The roller is mounted for
rotation between
the first and second frame members.
100111 In still another feature, the roller has a cylindrical body. The
cylindrical body has a first
end, an opposed second end and an intermediate portion extending therebetween.
The
intermediate portion has a curved surface defining the circular cross-section
of the cylindrical
body. The gripping means is carried on the curved surface of the intermediate
portion. In a
further feature, the gripping means includes a plurality of spaced apart
gripping members. Each
gripping member extends radially from the curved portion. The gripping members
are disposed
about the intermediate portion in a plurality of spaced apart rows. The
plurality of rows includes
at least three rows. Each row includes between five and twenty-five gripping
members.
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Preferably, each row includes between ten and fifteen gripping members. Each
gripping member
is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a tooth; (b) a barb; and (c) a
hook.
[0012] In yet another feature, the gripping members are permanently fixed to
the roller. In still
another feature, the gripping members are releasably mounted to the roller.
Each gripping
member includes a gripping portion and a fastening portion joined to the
gripping portion for
attachment to the roller. The curved surface has a plurality of apertures
defined therein for
receiving the corresponding plurality of gripping members. The plurality of
apertures are
configured for threaded engagement with the corresponding plurality of
fastening portions.
[0013] In a further feature, the drive assembly is manually operable. In yet
another feature, the
drive assembly is motorized. The drive assembly includes an electric drive
motor operatively
connected to the roller. The electric drive motor is supported on the second
frame member.
[0014] In additional feature, the grip releasing means includes an elongate
plate member having
a first longitudinal edge for placement opposite the roller and a second
longitudinal edge spaced
apart from the first longitudinal edge. The first longitudinal edge has formed
therein a plurality
of rebates corresponding to the plurality of gripping members. Each rebate is
disposed in
alignment with its corresponding gripping member and is sized larger than its
corresponding
gripping member so as to allow its corresponding gripping member to pass
therethrough
unobstructed during rotation of the roller. The plate member is mounted to
extend longitudinally
between the first and second frame members. The plate member is disposed
adjacent to the roller
such that the first longitudinal edge thereof is substantially tangent to a
portion of the curved
surface of the cylindrical body. When the apparatus is in use, the plate
member is slanted
downwardly towards the floor. The first longitudinal edge is carried at a
first height relative to
the floor and the second longitudinal edge is carried at a second height
relative to the floor. The
first height is greater than the second height. In a further feature, the
plate member is mounted
generally rearwardly of the roller.
[0015] In another feature, the grip releasing means includes a plate member
having an elongate
portion and at least one projection extending transversely therefrom. The at
least one projection
is disposed between adjacent gripping members. In an additional feature, the
at least one
projection includes a plurality of spaced apart projections. The spacing
between adjacent
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projections is aligned with the one gripping member and is sized larger than
the one gripping
member so as to allow the one gripping member to pass therethrough
unobstructed during
rotation of the roller. In a further feature, the plate member is mounted to
extend longitudinally
between the first and second frame members. When the apparatus is in use, the
plate member is
slanted downwardly towards the floor. In still a further feature, each
projection has a proximal
end joined to the elongate portion and an opposed free end. When the apparatus
is in use, the
free ends of the projections are carried at a first height relative to the
floor and the proximal ends
thereof are carried at a second height relative to the floor. The first height
is greater than the
second height. In yet another feature, the plate member is disposed adjacent
to the roller such that
the free ends of the projections are substantially tangent to a portion of the
curved surface of the
cylindrical body.
[0016] In a further feature, the apparatus further includes means for guiding
the portion of
flexible floor covering towards the intermediate portion of the roller. The
guide means is
mounted to one of the roller and the frame. The guide means includes a pair of
first and second,
spaced apart, guide plates. Each guide plate is disposed adjacent one of the
ends of the
cylindrical body. In another feature, the guide plates are fixed to the frame
members. The first
guide plate is attached to the first frame member and the second guide plate
is attached to the
second frame member. In still another feature, the guide plates are fixed to
the roller. The first
guide plate is attached to the first end of the cylindrical body and the
second guide plate is
attached to the second end of the cylindrical body. The guide plates are
circular.
[0017] In an additional feature, the flexible floor covering is selected from
a group consisting of:
(a) a carpet; and (b) a resilient floor covering. The resilient floor covering
is selected from a
group consisting of: (a) a vinyl covering; (b) a rubber covering; and (c) a
cork covering.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The embodiments of the present invention shall be more clearly
understood with
reference to the following detailed description of the embodiments of the
invention taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
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100191 FIG. 1 is a back left perspective view of an apparatus for removing
flexible floor
covering from a floor according to an embodiment of the present invention,
shown in an
operative position;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a left perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 3A is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 3B is a top plan view similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3A with
the frame shown in
isolation for purposes of clarity;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a left-side elevation view of the apparatus shown in FIG.1;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the apparatus shown in FIG.1;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a back elevation view of the apparatus shown in FIG.1;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a bottom front perspective view of the apparatus shown in
FIG.1;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a top rear perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3A
taken along line '9-
9';
[0029] FIG. 10 is a front left perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG.
9;
[0030] FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the roller and grip releasing means
shown in the
encircled portion "11" in FIG. 9;
[0031] FIG. 12 is a front left perspective view of the roller shown in Fig. 1;
[0032] FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the roller shown in FIG. 12;
[0033] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the roller shown in FIG. 13 taken
along line '14-14';
[0034] FIG. 15 is a top left perspective view of the grip releasing means
shown in FIG. 1;
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[0035] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus similar to that
illustrated in FIG. 1
shown in operation stripping a flexible floor covering from a floor;
[0036] FIG. 17 is a back left perspective view of an apparatus for removing
flexible floor
covering from a floor according to an alternate embodiment to that illustrated
in FIG. 1, shown in
an operative position;
[0037] FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 17;
[0038] FIG. 19 is a enlarged cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in
FIG. 18 taken along
line '19-19'; and
[0039] FIG. 20 is a top left perspective view of the grip releasing means
shown in FIG. 17.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0040] The description which follows, and the embodiments described therein
are provided by
way of illustration of an example, or examples of particular embodiments of
principles and
aspects of the present invention. These examples are provided for the purpose
of explanation
and not of limitation, of those principles of the invention. In the
description that follows, like
parts are marked throughout the specification and the drawings with the same
respective
reference numerals.
[0041] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3B, 4, 5 and 6, there is shown an apparatus
for removing a
flexible floor covering from a floor, generally designated with reference
numeral 20. The
apparatus 20 may be used to remove such flexible floor coverings as carpets
and resilient floor
coverings, for instance, vinyl, cork covering or the like regardless of
whether the floor coverings
are glued, stapled, nailed, screwed or otherwise secured to the floor. It will
however be
appreciated that a floor covering made from any generally flexible material
could be removed
using the apparatus 20, such as, a floor covering made from a flexible polymer
or rubber.
[0042] While the apparatus 20 is well suited to remove floor coverings from
large surfaces such
as those found in commercial or industrial buildings, it can be successfully
used in residential
dwellings as well.
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100431 The apparatus 20 generally includes a frame 22, a roller 24 supported
on the frame 22 for
rotational motion relative thereto, a drive assembly 26 for driving the
rotation of the roller 24,
gripping means 28 carried on the roller 24 for grippingly engaging a portion
of the flexible floor
covering 30 to be detached from the floor 32 (best shown in FIG. 16) and grip
releasing means
34 mounted to the frame 22 for urging the gripping means 28 to disengage from
the portion of
flexible floor covering 30.
[0044] The frame 22 has a pair of spaced apart, first and second longitudinal
frame members 36
and 38 between which are disposed the roller 24 and the grip releasing means
34, a first cross-
member 40 joining the first frame member 36 to the second frame member 38, a
pair of opposed,
intermediate frame members 42 and 44 each connected to a respective frame
member 36 and 38,
and a second cross-member 46 extending between the intermediate frame members
42 and 44.
Each frame member 36, 38 has a terminal (free) end 48 and a proximal end 50.
The first cross-
member 40 extends between, and is mounted generally perpendicular to, the
first and second
frame members 36 and 38 at a location closer to the proximal end 50 than to
the terminal end 48.
Each intermediate frame member 42, 44 is attached to the respective proximal
end 50 of the
frame member 36, 38. The intermediate frame members 42 and 44 extend away from
the
proximal ends 50 towards each other and are ultimately connected one to the
other by second
cross-member 46 extending therebetween.
[0045] In this embodiment, the frame members 36, 38, 42 and 44 and the cross-
members 40 and
46 are rectangular hollow structural steel (HSS) sections welded together to
form frame 22 (best
shown in FIG. 3B). However, it will be appreciated that other materials
exhibiting similar
strength and stiffness characteristics may also be used to similar advantage
to fabricate the
frame, for instance, aluminium, wood or rigid plastic. Fastening means other
than welding may
also be used to assemble the frame. For example, the frame members and the
cross-members
may be joined to each other using conventional fasteners such as screws, nuts,
bolts, nails, rivets
and the like. In alternative embodiments, the frame may have a unitary
construction.
[0046] The frame 22 is provided with first and second set of castors 52 and 54
to allow rolling
motion of the apparatus 20 along the floor 32. The first set of castors 52
supports the frame 22
when both frame members 36 and 38 are carried at substantially the same height
from the floor
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32 and the apparatus 20 is in an operable position 60 (as shown in FIGS. 5 and
6). The first set of
castors 54 includes castors 62, 64 and 66 laid out in a generally triangular
arrangement. Castors
62 and 64 are mounted beneath the terminal ends 48 of the first and second
frame members 36
and 38, while castor 66 is located under the second cross-member 46 midway
between the first
and second intermediate members 42 and 44.
[0047] To assist the operator in controlling the direction of travel of the
apparatus 20 when in the
operable position 60, a guide pole 70 is provided. The guide pole 70 is
mounted to, and extends
substantially upwardly from the intermediate frame member 44. The guide pole
70 has a first end
72 releasably connected to the top face 74 of the intermediate frame member 44
and an opposed,
second end 76. In this embodiment, the first end 72 is threaded. It is
received within a
correspondingly threaded base 73 mounted on the top face 74 of intermediate
frame member 44.
To facilitate transport and reduce the profile of the apparatus 20, the guide
pole 70 may be
disconnected from the top face 74 of the intermediate frame member 44 and
attached to its side
face 90 instead (as best shown in FIG. 7).
[0048] It should however be appreciated that other means of releasable
connection can also be
employed successfully. For instance, in an alternative embodiment, with
appropriate
modification, the first end of the guide pole could be secured to the
intermediate frame member
with a cotter pin.
[0049] Mounted to the second end 76 of the guide pole 70 is a grip or handle
78 to allow the
operator to better grasp the pole 70 and guide the apparatus 20 when in use.
Optionally, the grip
may include a grip-enhancing surface made of rubber or any other suitable
material. The second
end 76 of the guide pole 70 is also provided with an L-shaped hook 80 upon
which may be hung
the power cord for the drive assembly 26 to keep it from interfering with the
rolling motion of
the apparatus 20.
[0050] The second set of castors 54 is mounted to one side of the frame 22 and
is disposed
substantially perpendicular to the first set of castors 52. The second set of
castors 54 supports the
apparatus 20 when the frame 22 is turned on its side during transport and
occupies its out-of use
position 82 (as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8). The provision of the second set of
castors 54 confers
enhanced convenience on the apparatus 20 because it allows the lateral profile
of the apparatus to
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be reduced thereby facilitating passage through hallways, corridors or
doorways. When in its
operable position 60, the apparatus 20 may have a width that exceeds that of a
corridor or
doorway. To remedy this problem, the apparatus 20 may be turned on it side and
supported on
the second set of castors 54. In its out-of-use position 82, the width of the
apparatus 20 is
substantially reduced such that the apparatus may be able to clear a corridor
or doorway without
difficulty.
100511 The second set of castors 54 includes a pair of spaced apart castors 84
and 86. The castors
84 and 86 are fastened to a mounting plate 88 that is itself welded to the
side face 90 of the frame
member 38 between the terminal and proximal ends 48 and 50 thereof. The
mounting plate 88 is
disposed between the roller 24 and the drive assembly 26. When the apparatus
is in its operable
position 60, the mounting plate 88 can be seen to be oriented generally
vertically. Moreover, the
castor 84 is carried above the connection site of the roller 24 to the drive
assembly 26 while the
castor 86 is located below the connection site. Conversely, when in the out-of-
use position 82,
the mounting plate 88 can be seen to have a generally horizontal orientation
and the frame
member 36 is carried higher above the floor 32 than frame member 38 (as shown
in FIG. 7 and
8). In that position, both castors 84 and 86 engage the floor 32.
[0052] To provide additional support when in the out-of-use position 82, a
support rod or leg 92
is provided. The support rod 92 is welded onto the top face 74 of intermediate
frame member 44
in a relatively skewed orientation relative thereto. When the apparatus 20 is
in the out-of use
position 82, the support rod 92 provides a third point of contact with the
floor for enhanced
stability.
[0053] A relatively short, L-shaped member 94 is further provided to
facilitate moving the
apparatus 20 in its out-use position 82 to the next carpet stripping location
or work site. The L-
shaped member 94 is mounted to the top face of the second cross-member 46
generally midway
between the first and second intermediate frame members 42 and 44. It includes
a first arm 96
fixed to the second cross-member 46 and a second arm 98 disposed perpendicular
to the first arm
96. The second arm 98 defines a handle 100 which may be grasped by the
operator of the
apparatus when positioning the apparatus 20 during transport.
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[0054] Now referring to FIGS. 12 to 14, the roller 24 includes a hollow,
cylindrical body 110
having a first end 112, an opposed second end 114 and intermediate portion 116
extending
between first and second ends 112 and 114. The intermediate portion 116 has a
curved surface
118 that defines the circular cross-section of the cylindrical body 110. The
curved surface 118
has defined therein a plurality of evenly spaced, threaded apertures 120 laid
out in a series of
rows 122, 124, 126, 128, 130 and 132 (collectively, "rows 134") that extend
between the first
and second ends 112 and 114 of the cylindrical body 110. In the present
embodiment, the rows
134 are evenly spaced about the circumference of the cylindrical body 110 at
60 degree
intervals. As will be explained in greater detail below, the apertures 120
define stations 136
which are adapted to receive and retain a portion of the gripping means 28
therewithin.
[0055] Welded to each end 112 and 114 is a circular plate member or disc 140,
142 whose
diameter is larger than the diameter of the cylindrical body 110 throughout
its intermediate
portion 116. In the present embodiment, the diameter of each circular plate
member is 16 inches
whereas the diameter of the intermediate portion 116 is 5 inches. The plate
members 140 and
142 serve to guide the detached portion of flexible floor covering 30 away
from the first and
second frame members 36 and 38 towards the intermediate portion 116 of the
body 110. This
tends to prevent the detached portion of the flexible floor covering from
interfering with the
rotation of the roller 24 during use.
[0056] As best shown in FIG. 3B, the roller 24 is pivotally mounted to the
first and second frame
members 36 and 38 by way of mounting pins 144 and 146. Each mounting pin 144,
146 is
welded to, and extends outwardly from, the plate member 140, 142 respectively.
The mounting
pins 144 and 146 cooperate to define a rotational axis `A-A' about which the
body 110 may be
driven to rotate by the drive assembly 26. Preferably, the mounting pins 144
and 146 are made
of steel.
[0057] In this embodiment, each mounting pin 144, 146 is supported on a pillow-
type block
bearing 148, 150 and which sits on top of the frame member 36, 38 at a
location intermediate the
proximal and terminal ends 50 and 48 thereof. This need not be the case in
every application. It
should be appreciated that an alternate type and/or arrangement of bearings
could also be
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employed. For instance, house flange bearings could be carried on the opposed
side faces of the
frame members 36 and 38, instead of on their top faces.
100581 While in the present embodiment, the plate members 140 and 142 are
attached to the
cylindrical body 110 and rotate with the roller 24, it will be appreciated
that this need not be the
case in all applications. In an alternative embodiment, the plate members
could be mounted to
the frame members 36 and 38 such that the position of each plate member
remains fixed relative
to the frame 22. Such plate members could be formed with centrally disposed
apertures to
accommodate therethrough the passage of the mounting pins 144 and 146. Other
modifications
to the plate members 140 and 142 are also possible. For instance, instead of
being circular, the
plate members could be square, rectangular or triangular, or could have a
different geometric
shape. In still other embodiments, it may be possible to omit the plate
members altogether,
although this would generally not be preferred.
100591 With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the drive assembly 26 is now described
in greater detail.
The drive assembly 26 is carried on the intermediate frame member 44 and
includes a drive
motor 160, a variable speed gearbox 162 and a chain and sprocket arrangement
164 contained
with a protective housing 166. The drive motor 160 is operatively connected to
the mounting pin
146 of the roller 24 by way of the gearbox 162 and the chain and sprocket
arrangement 164. The
drive motor 160 rests on the support rod 92.
100601 Contrary to the motors used in prior art devices such as those
described above, the drive
motor 160 need not be very powerful. The drive motor 160 may be relatively
small and modestly
powerful. In the present embodiment, the drive motor 160 is a 3/4 h.p.
electric motor and runs on
an 110 volt circuit. The configuration of apparatus 20 makes the use of such
relatively, low
power motors possible. More specifically, unlike prior art devices which wind
the stripped
portion of carpet (for instance) around the roller thereby requiring more
power to be drawn from
the motor for each subsequent rotation, the apparatus 20 does not cause the
carpet to be wound
about the roller 24. In the case of apparatus 20, the grip releasing means 34
are operable to
disengage the stripped portion of carpet from the roller so as to prevent it
from being wound
about the roller 24. In the absence of the increased load caused by winding
the carpet on the
roller, the need for larger more, powerful motors tends to be obviated in the
case of apparatus 20.
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[0061] The provision of variable speed gearbox 162 enables the delivered speed
to be stepped
down thereby allowing the roller 24 to be rotatively driven at relatively low
revolutions.
Moreover, the variable speed gearbox 162 permits the rotational speed of the
roller 24 to be
further adjusted to accommodate the specific type of flexible floor covering
and the particular
method of attachment therefore. For instance, where glue has been used to
adhere carpet to a
floor, the gearbox 162 may be actuated in such a way as to deliver greater
torque at lower speeds.
The increased torque may be useful in overcoming the adhesive force of the
glue and detach the
carpet from the floor.
[0062] While it is generally preferred that the drive assembly be motorized,
it will be appreciated
that this need not be the case in every application. In an alternative
embodiment, the drive
assembly could be adapted to allow for manual actuation of the apparatus. For
example, a hand
crank operatively connected to the roller could be used to urge the rotation
of the roller.
[0063] As shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, the gripping means 28 are carried on
the curved
surface 118 of the intermediate portion 116. The gripping means 28 include a
plurality of
gripping members 170 that are detachably mounted in the corresponding
plurality of stations 136
defined in the intermediate portion 84. As a result, the gripping members 170
are laid out in a
linear arrangement corresponding to the rows 134. Accordingly, in this
embodiment, there are
six rows 122, 124, 126, 128, 130 and 132 of gripping members with each row
having eleven
gripping members 170. However, in alternative embodiments, the gripping means
may be
modified to have more or less than six rows, but at least three rows of
gripping members.
Similarly, the number of gripping members per row may also vary depending on
the application.
Preferably, each row will carry between five and twenty-five gripping members.
More
preferably, each row will employ ten to fifteen gripping members.
[0064] While a multiple row arrangement of gripping members 170 is preferred,
it should be
appreciated that the gripping members could be disposed along the curved
surface 118
differently. For instance, the gripping members could be distributed about the
curved surface 118
in a helical pattern or other pattern, or could be randomly positioned along
the curved surface
118.
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[0065] In this embodiment, the gripping member 170 is in the nature of a tooth
172. Each tooth
172 has a gripping portion 174 for grippingly engaged a flexible floor
covering 30 and a
fastening portion 176 joined to the gripping portion 174 for releasably
attaching the tooth 172 to
the roller 24. The gripping portion 174 has a generally conoidal structure and
tapers at its
terminal end to present a relatively, sharp tip 178 that is adapted to engage
the flexible floor
covering 30. The fastening portion 176 of the tooth 172 has a configuration
that resembles that
of a bolt. More specifically, the fastening portion 176 has a hexagonal head
180 and a generally
cylindrical body 182 connected to the head 180. The hexagonal head 180 is
disposed between the
gripping portion 174 and the cylindrical body 182. The cylindrical body 182
has helical
threading 184 extending about its circumference. The threading 184 is adapted
to engage the
threaded apertures 120 to allow the tooth 172 to be fastened to the roller 24.
To prevent any tooth
172 from becoming loose within its station 136 during use, a ratchet or wrench
may be used
during assembly to grip the hexagonal head 180 and tighten the threaded
connection between the
station 136 and the cylindrical body 182. Once fastened to the intermediate
portion 116, the
teeth 172 can be seen to extend radially from the curved surface 118 of the
roller 24 (as best
shown in FIG. 14).
[0066] Having the teeth 172 releasably connected to the roller 24 tends to
facilitate
refurbishment or replacement of the teeth 172 during routine maintenance of
the equipment.
Moreover, this feature tends to enhance the versatility of the apparatus 20 in
that the teeth 172
may be changed relatively easily in favour of a gripping member of a different
type to suit the
removal of a particular floor covering. In this regard, it will be appreciated
that teeth 172 may be
replaced with other types of gripping members which have specially adapted
gripping structures
such as hooks, barbs or the like. However, while it is generally preferred
that the gripping
members be detachably mounted to the roller 24, this need not be the case in
every application.
In certain applications, it may be desirable to have the gripping members
permanently affixed to
the roller such as by welding or the like.
[0067] Other modifications are also possible. While in the present embodiment,
the gripping
members 170 are carried on the curved surface 118 of the hollow cylindrical
body 110, in
alternative embodiments the gripping members may be mounted to other surfaces
or structures of
a differently configured roller. In this regard, the roller need not be
cylindrical or even have
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continuous surfaces. For instance, the roller could be fabricated with an open
framework of
members - the members supporting the gripping members thereon.
[0068] Referring to FIGS. 3A, 10, 11 and 15, the grip releasing means 34 is
now described
below in greater detail. As previously mentioned, the grip releasing means 34
serves to
discourage the stripped portion of flexible floor covering 30 from being wound
about the roller
24 when the apparatus 20 is in use. The grip releasing means 34 carries out
its function by urging
the teeth 172 to disengage or separate from the stripped portion of flexible
floor covering 30
during rotation of the roller 24.
[0069] In this embodiment, the grip releasing means 34 takes the form of a
longitudinal,
generally rectangular, plate member 190. The plate member 190 is defined by
first and second,
spaced apart, longitudinal edges 192 and 194 and first and second, spaced
apart, lateral edges
196 and 198 that extend between the longitudinal edges 192 and 194. The plate
member 190 is
mounted lengthwise between the frame members 36 and 38 opposite the roller 24
in an
orientation which allows its longitudinal edge 192 to remain tangential or
substantially tangential
to a portion of the curved surface 118 (as best shown in FIG. 11).
[0070] The length of the plate member 190 as measured between its lateral
edges 196 and 198
corresponds roughly to the length of the roller 24 as measured between its
ends 112 and 114.
However, approximately one third of the way between the first longitudinal
edge 192 and the
second longitudinal edge 194, each of the lateral edges 196, 198 has an
indented portion 200 that
provides a clearance to accommodate the circular plate member 140, 142.
[0071] A plurality of evenly spaced rebates 202 corresponding to the plurality
of gripping
members 170 in a given row 134 is formed along the first longitudinal edge
192. The rebates 202
are disposed in alignment with the teeth 172 and accordingly, have generally
triangular profiles
that correspond substantially to those of teeth 172. Furthermore, the rebates
202 are sized
slightly larger than the gripping portions 174 of the teeth 172 so as to
provide a clearance to
allow the teeth 172 to pass through the rebates 202 free of obstruction as the
roller 24 rotates
about its axis `A-A'.
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[0072] The plate member 190 is attached to the frame 22 by a longitudinal C-
shaped, channel
section 204. The channel section 204 is welded at each end to one of the frame
members 36 and
38. The back of channel section 204 is fastened to the underside of plate
member 190 adjacent its
longitudinal edge 194 using fasteners 206 (such as, screws, bolts, or the
like) which are received
through apertures 208 defined in the plate member 190 and corresponding
openings (not shown)
formed in the back of the channel section. When fastened in this fashion, the
plate member 190
is preferably mounted with its longitudinal edge 192 carried higher above the
floor than its
longitudinal edge 194 such that the plate member 190 can be seen to be sloping
downwardly
towards its longitudinal edge 194 when mounted to the frame 22. In an
alternative embodiment,
the longitudinal edges 192 and 194 could be carried at the same height above
the floor.
[0073] In use, a given row 134 of teeth 172 will grippingly engage a portion
of flexible floor
covering 30. As the roller 24 is driven to rotate, the portion of flexible
floor covering 30 gripped
by the row of teeth 172 is pulled away from the floor 32. The rotational
movement of the roller
24 causes the row 134 to meet the grip releasing means 28 and to drive the
plate member 190
between the portion of the flexible floor covering 30 and the teeth 152. More
specifically, the
longitudinal edge 194 of plate member 190 abuts that part of the curved
surface 118 that carries
row 134. The teeth 172 are urged to pass through the rebates 202, but the
portion of flexible floor
covering 30 is held back by the plate member 190. As a result, the teeth 172
are urged to
disengage from the portion of flexible floor covering 30. In this way, the
plate member 190 acts
as a wedge to separate the floor covering 30 from the teeth 172. No longer
attached to teeth 172,
the stripped portions of flexible floor covering 30 slide along the plate
member 190 toward the
first longitudinal edge 192 and ultimately, accumulate on the floor 32 behind
the apparatus 20.
[0074] To keep the weight of the apparatus 20 relatively low, the plate member
190 is preferably
made of a light, rigid plastic. However, it will be appreciated that other
light-weight, rigid
materials could also be employed to similar advantage.
[0075] One configuration of the grip releasing means 28 has been described
above. However, the
grip releasing means may take a variety of forms without departing from the
principles of the
present invention. Other configurations using plates, bars and the like could
be used to carry out
the wedge-like function of the grip releasing means. For instance, it may be
possible to replace
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the plate member 190 with an alternative plate member having one or more
finger-like
projections for urging the teeth to disengage from the portion of flexible
floor covering.
[0076] One such embodiment is shown in FIGS. 17 to 20 wherein an alternative
apparatus is
designated with reference numeral 210. The apparatus 210 is generally similar
to apparatus 20 in
that includes a frame 220, a roller 222, a drive assembly 224, gripping means
226 (in the nature
of gripping members 230 similar to gripping members 170) and grip releasing
means 228. The
frame 220, the roller 222, the drive assembly 224 and the gripping means 226
are similar in both
construction and configuration to their respective counterpart elements in
apparatus 20 and are
operatively connected to each other in generally the same manner, such that no
additional
description of these elements is required. However, the apparatus 210 differs
from the apparatus
20 in that the grip releasing means 228 is defined by an alternate plate
member 232. The plate
member 232 has an elongate portion 234 and a plurality of spaced apart, finger-
like projections
236 which extend transversely of the elongate portion 234. Each of the
projections 236 has a
proximal end 238 joined to the elongate portion 234 and an opposed free end
240. While in this
embodiment, the plate member 232 has twelve projections 236, it will be
appreciated that the
number of projections may be varied to suit the particular application.
[0077] In this arrangement, the configuration of the projections 236 and the
spacing 244 between
adjacent projections 234 imparts a generally crenellated appearance to the
plate member 232.
Moreover, the plate member 232 is configured such that the spacing 244 between
adjacent
projections 236 is alignable with the gripping members 230 in a given row. The
spacing 244 is
sized to provide a clearance to allow the gripping members 230 to pass through
free of
obstruction as the roller 222 rotates about its axis `A-A'.
[0078] In similar fashion to plate member 190, plate member 232 is mounted
lengthwise
between frame members 250 and 252 opposite the roller 222 in an orientation
which allows the
projections 236 to remain tangential or substantially tangential to a portion
of the curved surface
254 of the roller 222 (as best shown in FIG. 19). Moreover, the plate member
232 is attached to
the frame 220 by a longitudinal C-shaped, channel section 256 similar to
channel 204. The
channel section 256 is welded at each end to one of the frame members 250 and
252. The back of
channel section 256 is fastened to the underside of plate member 232 along its
elongate portion
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234 using fasteners 258 (such as, screws, bolts, or the like) which are
received through apertures
260 defined in the plate member 190 and corresponding openings (not shown)
formed in the
back of the channel section. When fastened in this fashion, the plate member
232 is preferably
mounted with the free ends 240 of the projections 236 carried higher above the
floor than the
proximal ends 238 thereof such that the plate member 232 can be seen to be
sloping downwardly
towards the elongate portion 234. In an alternative embodiment, the proximal
and free ends 238
and 240 could be carried at the same height above the floor.
[0079] In use, the plate member 232 functions much in the same way as plate
member 190. A
given row 262 of gripping members 230 will grippingly engage a portion of
flexible floor
covering 30. As the roller 222 is driven to rotate, the portion of flexible
floor covering 30
gripped by the row 262 of gripping members 230 is pulled away from the floor
32. The rotational
movement of the roller 222 causes the row 262 to meet the grip releasing means
228 and to drive
the plate member 230 between the portion of the flexible floor covering 30 and
the gripping
members 230. More specifically, the free ends 240 of the projections 236 abut
that part of the
curved surface 254 that carries the row 262 of gripping members 230. The
gripping members
230 are urged to pass through the spacing 244, but the portion of flexible
floor covering 30 is
held back by the plate member 232. As a result, the gripping members 230 are
urged to
disengage from the portion of flexible floor covering 30.
[0080] In the embodiments described above, the plate members 190 and 232 are
mounted
generally rearwardly of the roller 24 and 222, respectively (as best shown in
FIGS. 11 and 19).
However, it should be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment, the grip
releasing means
could be disposed differently relative to the roller. For instance, in an
alternative embodiment,
the grip releasing means could be mounted substantially beneath the roller.
100811 An exemplary use of the apparatus 20 is now described. The apparatus 20
is positioned
on a floor 32 adjacent a flexible floor covering to be removed. A portion of
the flexible floor
covering having a width corresponding generally to the width of the
intermediate portion 116 as
measured between the ends 112 and 114, is manually detached from the floor
using a utility
knife, a box cutter, a scraper, or other similar tool and the detached portion
is urged into
engagement with the gripping means 28. With the gripping members 170 of at
least one row 134
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firmly gripping the detached portion of flexible floor covering, the drive
assembly 26 is actuated
to cause the roller 24 to rotate. As the roller 24 rotates about its
rotational axis `A-A' in a
counter-clockwise direction (when viewed from the drive assembly side), the
portion of the
flexible floor covering 30 is pulled away from the floor and the apparatus 20
is thus urged to
advance forward. The portion of flexible floor covering is directed toward the
intermediate
portion 116 by the circular plate members 140 and 142.
[0082] As the rows 134 of teeth 172 meet the plate member 190, the teeth 172
pass through the
rebates 202. The plate member 190 prevents the portion of flexible floor
covering 30 from
following the rotational motion of the teeth 172 thereby causing the floor
covering 30 to
physically separate from the teeth 172. Thus detached from teeth 172, the
floor covering tends to
slide down the plate member 190 and accumulates on the floor 32 behind the
apparatus 20.
[0083] Multiple passes of the apparatus 20 may be required to strip the floor
covering from a
floor having a relatively large surface area. The first pass of the apparatus
20 removes a band of
flexible floor covering. Thereafter, each subsequent pass strips the adjacent
band disposed side-
by-side to earlier removed band, until the entire area has been stripped of
its floor covering.
DM_T0R/263556 00001/1864150 1
