![US 2009/0095943 A1
CARPET SEAM LOCK
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The device herein described relates to the installa
tion ofcarpet and to a phase in the installation process Where
it is necessary to maintain a stretched piece ofcarpet taut and
static to adjoining carpet sections, in order to facilitate the
drying of the carpet glue While concurrently maintaining
sectional alignment betWeen adjoining sections. More spe
ci?cally, the device provides a means to secure neWly laid
carpet in a stretched position by engaging it to adjoined
stretch sections and alloWing patterns and seams to maintain
a match during the adhesive drying process.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Carpet has become a very popular Way to cover
indoor ?oors ofany scale, and neW styles, colors and patterns
are being introduced all the time. Likewise, age-old carpet
laying techniques are being re?ned and neW tools introduced.
[0003] Most residential carpeting is installed by attaching
the end of a roll of carpet to the base of a Wall and stretching
it With one of several carpet stretching devices to the other
side ofthe room Where it is attached to the base ofthe oppos
ing Wall. The carpet is stretched in this fashion to ensure that
it lays ?at and Will not be prone to Wrinkling later on.
[0004] When carpeting larger scale commercial ?oors,
conventionally a different installation technique is used.
Whenlarge distances are to be carpeted, the glue-doWn instal
lation method is preferred over the stretch method used in
smaller rooms ofhomes. In the glue-doWn method, carpet is
adhesively attached directly to an underlying substrate such
as plyWood sub-?ooring or concrete foundation. The process
involves covering the ?ooring substrate in its entirety With
adhesive and rolling the carpet onto the ?oor so the backing
can bond With the substrate over a de?ned period of time
Wherein the carpet may be moved or positioned to its ?nal
mounted position on the substrate.
[0005] When installing carpet in this fashion Which has a
design or pattern formed in the Weave, special installation
concerns arise. Carpet, like any textile, falls victim to inherent
distortions of pattern and shape Which can be caused during
manufacturing, shipping, or poor storage. Common defects
that occur in patterned carpet include trueness of edge, boW
ing and skeWing ofthe visual pattern. BoWing is the result of
the pattern lagging or gaining in the middle ofthe roll Width.
SkeWing occurs When the pattern doesn’t line up perpendicu
lar to the edge of the carpet roll. Trueness of an edge can be
easily recogniZed ifthe edge ofthe carpet forms an ‘S’ shape.
In any instance, it is highly impractical to cut out the distor
tions and much more effective and e?icient to stretch the
carpet section such that its pattern matches appropriately With
adjacent carpet sections With the same pattern.
[0006] When stretching a section of carpet to match pat
terns or correct other distortions, once a ?rst section is in its
?nal position matched to adjacent sections, it must be held in
that position until the adhesive or other means for permanent
mounting ?xes the relative positions of the different carpet
sections. To this end, in commercial installations on concrete
surfaces, it is common to temporarily nail the terminating
edges of freshly laid adjacent carpet sections to the underly
ing ?oor While the adhesive dries. This type of temporary
positioning causes a plethora of problems for both the
installer and the future occupant. Whether the underlying
Apr. 16, 2009
?oor is plyWood, concrete or even padding, temporarily nail
ing the stretchedcarpet sectionis intrusive, noisy and destruc
tive. When it is necessary to temporarily nail carpet to the
underlying ?oor, the process often deforms or even chips the
sub-?ooring, causing mounds or divots once the carpet is laid
Which Will eventually damage the carpet and cause tripping
from the uneven surface. Concrete is especially prone to this
chipping and the process itself causes much unneeded noise
at an already loud commercial construction site.
[0007] While a number of devices exist Which may be
employed to stretch and pull large pieces of carpet toWard
each other at a seam, none is Well adapted to simply hold
already stretched carpet sections in their relative positions.
Conventional carpet stretching devices generally consist of
tWo blocks With a plurality of pins extending doWnWard to
engage the carpet. These opposing planar blocks providing
the pin mounts are engaged to a mechanical levering appara
tus providing suf?cient torque to the tWo opposing blocks to
pull them a large distance With levers to thereby align the
terminating edges of adjacent carpet sections at large carpet
seams. While it may be tempting to use these carpet pullers to
lock a seam in place While glue dries, several problems inevi
tably occur ifthis is done. First, carpet pullers and stretchers
are large, cumbersome and have a levering system providing
mechanical advantage that is much too poWerful to simply
holdthe carpet at the seam. Such carpet pullers are gear driven
or employ cams to achieve the mechanical advantage neces
sary to pull sometimes hundreds of pounds of individual
carpet sections toWard another, each having a very large fric
tional engagement With the underlying ?oor or substrate and
any adhesive that may be applied. Due to the nature of their
design, such carpet pullers inevitably over pull adjacent sec
tions of carpet causing them to overlap onto each other at the
seam. This overlap, once accomplished, is a major impedi
ment to a timely completion ofthe job since both sections of
carpet must then be repositioned and then draWn toWard each
other in an engagement registering their patterns once again.
This constant recurring problem, especially Where conven
tional pullers and stretchers are in inexperienced hands,
occurs because such stretching devices are designed to pull
hundreds or thousands of pounds of carpet sections friction
ally or adhesively engaging an underlying ?oor, but not to
engage carpet sections already aligned and to simply hold
them in registered engagement.
[0008] Thus, there is an unmet need for a carpet section
positioning device that is adapted to engage With adjacent
aligned carpet sections having registered carpet patterns, and
to provide a means to hold the carpet sections in registered
engagement While the adhesive af?xing their relative posi
tions dries during a glue-doWn application. Such a device
should be self-limiting as to a distance oftravel ofboth ofthe
tWo engaged carpet sections abutted on a seam. Such a device
should prevent any damage to the sub-?ooring or any harm of
the proximal surfaces. Furthermore, such a device should not
pull or stretch the carpet directly but should act only as a
means to secure and maintainthe position ofan already pulled
or stretched carpet section. Finally, such a device, being
engaged When a larger carpet stretcher is removed, should be
suf?cient in strength to maintain the large amounts oftorque
and force from stretched carpet sections for long periods of
time, Without alloWing the carpet to slip.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] There is disclosed and described herein a device
used to secure and maintain a carpet seam betWeen tWo adja](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/133da6d6-a01f-4480-80d2-183bd9660be7-170209183227/85/Carpet_Seam_Lock-4-320.jpg)
![US 2009/0095943 A1
cent sections of carpet, in a registered substantially static
engagement, during a glue-doWn application. The device
herein is adapted for engagement to, and holding adjacent
carpet sections in a static position relative to each other,
Without over pulling or causing an overlap of adjacent sec
tions on the seam.
[0010] The device consists oftWo planarmembers engaged
by a means for translation such as a sliding rail alloWing both
members to slide toWard and aWay from each other. The
device has a lever or handle extending from the sliding
engagement Which acts as a means to translate the tWo planar
members upon its sliding engagement. The handle is rotation
ally engaged to the ?rst member or the rail engaged thereto of
the sliding engagement.
[0011] Each planar member ofthe device has a plurality of
pins extending doWnWard from the bottom surface of the
member. These pins preferably have a speci?c length and
angle Which are crucial for the optimal operation of the
device. Employing a calculated length to the pins at a deter
mined angle renders the device substantially incapable of
pulling or stretching the carpet further than has already been
accomplished by a carpet stretcher being removed. The
device thereafter acts only as a means of securing the tWo
pieces of carpet at the seam and maintaining their relative
positions to each other until removed.
[0012] The tWo planar members are connected With a slid
ing engagement alloWing the members to easily slide toWard
and aWay from one another. As noted, a handle is rotationally
engaged at a pin or axle at one member ofthe sliding engage
ment. A cross member is then rotationally engaged at a
middle portion ofthe handle at a ?rst end. A second end ofthe
cross member is engaged to the second sliding member in a
rotational engagement. So engaged betWeen the tWo planar
members, the handle acts as a means of translating the tWo
planar members toWard each other, and on release, aWay from
each other When the handle is rotated an opposite direction.
[0013] In operation, the device is employed to maintain
carpet sections in static positions relative to each other by
placing one planar member on one section of carpet on one
side ofthe seam, and placing the other planar member oh the
other section of carpet on the opposite side ofthe seam. The
seam is best located in a central portion of a gap formed
betWeen the tWo planar members.
[0014] Engagement of the tWo planar members to their
respective carpet sections is accomplished by imparting force
to a top side ofthe device, opposite the carpet sections, While
concurrently rotating the handle. When the handle is rotated
toWard the carpet surface from a substantially elevated posi
tion to a substantially horizontal position relative to the car
pet, the tWo planarmembers translate toWard one another. The
pins extending fromthe loWer surface ofeachplanarmember,
employing both the translation and the doWnWard force
imparted to the device, bite into the carpet as the planar
members move toWard each other. Because the pins are of a
length and at an angle to cause the carpet to contact the bottom
surface ofboth planar members at orjust prior to the ?nish of
translation toWard each other, they only engage Within the
body ofthe carpet a distance less than or equal to the distance
oftranslation ofthe planar members toWard each other. Once
in this engaged position, the device effectively locks the car
pet sections in place relative to each other, but because they
Will not over translate, over pulling causing overlapping of
adjacent carpet sections at the seam is prevented. A means to
maintainthe device inthe engagedposition is providedby the
Apr. 16, 2009
handle being rotated to an angle Wherein it is just past a
horiZontal position to the mount of the cross member to the
opposite planar member, or slightly over rotated. This over
rotated position combined With the pressure against both
planar members by the restrained carpet sections imparting
pressure force to the handle, provides a means to maintain the
device locked in the engaged position.
[0015] This unique construction therefore provides a
device that Will alloW loW skilled Workers to folloW higher
skilled Workers Who use the carpet stretchers. This is because
the risk of over stretching a carpet section and ruining the
registered engagement betWeen one or more carpet sections is
prevented by the limited movement of the tWo planar mem
bers toWard each other.
[0016] In this respect, before explaining at least one
embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood
that the invention is not limited in its application to the details
ofthe construction and to the arrangement ofthe components
set forth in the folloWing description of illustrated in the
draWings. The invention is capable ofother embodiments and
ofbeing practiced and carried out in various Ways. Also, it is
to be understood that the phraseology and terminology
employed herein are forthe purpose ofdescription and should
not be regarded as limiting.
[0017] As such, those skilled in the art Will appreciate that
the conception upon Which this disclosure is based, may
readily be utiliZed as a basis for designing of other methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the
present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be
regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as
they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
[0018] It is an object ofthis invention to provide a means to
adequately secure tWo adjacent sections ofcarpet at a seam in
a ?xed relative engagement.
[0019] It is further an object of this invention to secure a
carpet seam Without causing damage to the underlying ?oor
or proximal surface or to the carpet sections.
[0020] It is further an object of this invention to provide a
means to secure adjacent sections of carpet at a seam in a
manner Which eliminates the possibility of further stretch or
overpull of the carpet sections Which can cause overlaps or
de-registration ofregistered patterns.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIGURES
[0021] FIG. 1 depicts a top perspective vieW ofthe device in
a ?rst or disengaged position having a larger gap betWeen the
tWo planar members.
[0022] FIG. 2 depicts the device from the side as it appears
in the disengaged mode ofFIG. 1. The pins rest on top ofthe
carpet and the handle is at an elevated angle from the parallel
planar members.
[0023] FIG. 3 depicts the same side vieW of another mode
of the device Wherein the handle has been rotated to engage
the device to the carpet sections to a second or engaged
position and is held locked in place by the force ofthe carpet
sections.
[0024] FIG. 4 depicts a side vieW of another mode of the
device Wherein the pins are engaged to plates Which are
removably engaged to the planar members. Changing the](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/133da6d6-a01f-4480-80d2-183bd9660be7-170209183227/85/Carpet_Seam_Lock-5-320.jpg)
![US 2009/0095943 A1
plates to those With different pin lengths allows for adjust
ment of the pin length if needed to accommodate different
carpets.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
EMBODIMENT
[0025] Referring noW to the drawings in FIGS. 1-4,
Wherein similar parts are identi?ed by like reference numer
als, the device 10 as shoWn in FIGS. 1-4 consists oftWo planar
members 12 and 14 each having a top surface 13 and 15
respectively, and each having a loWer surface 17 and 19
respectively. On the loWer surfaces 17 and 19 of each of the
planar members 12 and 14 are located a plurality of pins 26
extending aWay from the loWer surfaces. The pins 26 extend
at an angle and have a speci?c length calculated to engage the
carpet 11 but not the underlying surface. As shoWn in FIG. 4,
the distance D3 is the horiZontal distance created by the
angled pins 29 from their pointed distal tip 27 to the base of
the pin 29 engaged to the loWer surfaces of the planar mem
bers 12 and 14.
[0026] As can be seen in FIGS. 1-3, the planar members 12
and 14 are operatively engaged for translation relative to each
other by a means ofa translating engagement. This means for
translation is shoWn in a particularly preferred mode of the
device as in a tWo-piece slide With a ?rst translating member
18 engaged to the ?rst planar member 14 and a second trans
lating member 20 Which is slidably engaged With the ?rst
translating member 18 and attached to the other planar mem
ber 12. A handle 16 is rotationally engaged to the second
translating member 20 and to a crossbar 24.
[0027] At a mid-section ofthe handle 16 betWeen the rota
tional engagement 23 ofthe handle 16 to the second translat
ing member 20 and the distal end ofthe handle 16, the cross
bar 24 is rotationally engaged on a hinge pin 21 or other
means forrotational engagement at one end. The opposite end
ofthe crossbar 24 is in a rotational engagement 23 to the ?rst
translating member 18. As shoWn, the hinge pin 21 is offthe
center axis ofthe handle 16 so as to position the hinge pin 21
loWerthanthe rotational engagement 23 at the opposite end of
the crossbar 24 When it is rotated fully to a position substan
tially horiZontal to the plane of the top surface 13 but at a
slightly declining angle doWnWard toWard the top surface 13.
[0028] As can be seen in FIG. 2 a gap is formed by the
distance betWeen the planar members 12 and 14 and at its
Widest point is depicted as D1. In operation, When the handle
16 is rotated in a direction aWay from the crossbar 24 in a
circular motion toWard the carpet 11, the second translating
member 20 is pulled toWard the ?rst translating member 18
causing the tWo attached planar members 12 and 14 to trans
late a determined short distance toWard each other narroWing
the gap by that distance. As can be seen in FIG. 3, after
translation ofthe tWo planar members 12 and 14, from a ?rst
position spaced further apart, to a second position at their
closest proximity, the gap D1 has been narroWed by the trans
lated distance to the smaller distance, D2. The gap de?ned by
D2 is the distance betWeen the planar members 12 and 14
after the handle 16 has been rotated causing the planar mem
bers to translate closer to each other to the second position.
[0029] Means to hold the device locked in the engaged or
second position is provided by the biasing force of the tWo
sections of the carpet 11a and 11b. This force is communi
cated to the crossbar 24 Which is engaged to the rotatedhandle
16. The point of rotatable engagement of the crossbar 24 to
the handle 16 is slightly beloW the rotational engagement 23
Apr. 16, 2009
of the crossbar 24 to the planar member 14 When the handle
16 is in the rotated position shoWn in FIG. 3. This causes the
crossbar 24 to impart the biasing force to pull the handle 16
toWard the top surface 13 of the planar member 12 thereby
locking the device 10 in the second or engaged position.
[0030] The length and angle ofthe pins 26 directly affects
the distance translated by the carpet sections 1111 and 11b
When engaged With the tWo planar members 12 and 14. When
the device 10 is placed on the tWo separate pieces ofcarpet 11
& 11b, the pins 26 rest on top ofthe carpet as can be seen in
FIG. 2. When the device is employed, the handle 16 is rotated
aWay from the crossbar 24 and pushedtoWard the ground. The
translation of the planar members 12 and 14 caused by the
depression ofthe handle 16 forces the pins 26 to bite into the
carpet 11 material. Due to the angled nature of the pins 26,
and their length matching the distance oftravel ofthe planar
members 12 and 14, as the pins 26 slide doWn into the carpet
11, they alloW translation of one planar member toWard the
other planar member but Without forcing the carpet sections
1111 and 11b toWard each other. Forming the pins 26 to a
length to slide at an angle into the carpet 11 While the tWo
planar members translate toWard each other, and having the
top surface of the carpet 11 contacting the bottom of the
planar members concurrently With the travel distance of the
tWo planar members toWard each other, substantially prohib
its the device from forcing the pre-positioned carpet sections
1111 and 11b toWard the seam 9 and provides a means to
prevent overlapping of the seam 9 betWeen the tWo carpet
sections 1111 and 11b. This solves the previous noted prob
lems of prior art Where a mis-adjusted carpet stretcher Will
mis-align the seam and cause overlapping Which can take
much time to correct.
[0031] By limiting the total translation distance ofthe tWo
planar members 12 and 14 as alloWed by the handle 16 and
using a speci?c angle and length of pins 26, the pins 26 are
able to sink into the carpet 11a distance equal to the transla
tion ofthe planar members 12 and 14 themselves. As the pins
26 bite into the carpet, they are thus only alloWed to penetrate
the carpet 11a distance equal to or less than the translation of
the tWo planar members 12 and 14 toWards each other. By
limiting the amount of translation by the planar members 12
and 14 and penetration of the pins 26, the device 10 is pro
vided a means to prevent overpull or overlap ofthe tWo pieces
ofcarpet 11a and 11b as traditional commercial carpet pullers
are prone to do. Also, since the length of the pins 26 is
calculated to never fully penetrate the carpet 11 there is no
risk of damaging the underlying ?oor.
[0032] It is envisioned that because of the many types of
carpet 11 commercially available, pins of different length
may be required to accommodate a thin carpet or thick carpet
With the same device 10. As shoWn in FIG. 4, the pins 26 may
be removably engaged to the planar members 12 and 14 to
alloW for this adjustment. As depicted in a favored embodi
ment of FIG. 4, the pins 26 Would be engaged to a plate 30.
The plate 30 is then removably engaged to the planar mem
bers 12 and 14. The plates 30 canbe provided in a kit featuring
a plurality ofplates 30, each member ofthe plurality having
different lengthpins 26 and eachremovably engageableto the
planar members 12 and 14 using means for removable
engagement such as a screW (not shoWn).
[0033] Or in a particularly preferred mode ofthe device 10,
the plate 30 can have tWo sets of pins 26 thereon in similar
angled engagements. Slots 32 in the planar members 12 and
14 Would be placed to engage the pins 26 ofthe non-used side](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/133da6d6-a01f-4480-80d2-183bd9660be7-170209183227/85/Carpet_Seam_Lock-6-320.jpg)
![US 2009/0095943 A1
ofthe plate 30. By making one set ofpins 26 shorter than the
other, the device 10 can change the pin length by ?ipping the
plate 30, thereby allowing Workers to accommodate a plural
ity ofcarpet thicknesses by simply ?ipping over the plate 20.
The slots, 32 Would in this case be equal to, or slightly longer
than the length ofthe longer ofthe tWo sets ofpins 26 on the
plate 30 to alloW the plates 16 to engage the planar members
With either set of pins 26.
[0034] While all of the fundamental characteristics and
features of the carpet section locking apparatus and method
have been described herein, With reference to particular
embodiments thereof, a latitude of modi?cation, various
changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing dis
closure and it Will be apparent that in some instance, some
features of the invention Will be employed Without a corre
sponding use of other features Without departing from the
scope of the invention as set forth. It should be understood
that such substitutions, modi?cations, and variations may be
made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the
spirit or scope ofthe invention. Consequently, all such modi
?cations and variations are included Within the scope of the
invention as de?ned herein.
What is claimed is:
1. A carpet seam clamping apparatus for holding pre-posi
tioned carpet sections abutted at a seam in position subse
quent to removal of a carpet stretcher, comprising:
a ?rst planar member having a top surface and bottom
surface;
a second planar member having a top surface and bottom
surface;
means for translational engagement of said ?rst planar
member to said second planar member betWeen a ?rst
position and a second position;
a gap betWeen said ?rst planar member and said second
planarmember, said gap reduced by a ?rst distance When
said ?rst planar member and second planar member are
translated to said second position;
a plurality of pins projecting to distal ends from engage
ment points on said bottom surfaces of said ?rst planar
member and said second planar member, each of said
pins having a lengthbetWeen said engagement point and
said distal ends;
means to hold said ?rst planar member and said second
planar member in said second position; and
Wherein, said clamping apparatus engages With tWo pre
positioned carpet sections abutting a seam by translating
said ?rst and second planar members to said second
position thereby causing said pins to pierce said carpet
sections for said length of said pins during said transla
tion from said ?rst position to said second position.
2. The carpet seam clamping apparatus ofclaim 1 addition
ally comprising:
said length of said pins being siZed cause a positioning ofa
top surface of said abutting carpet sections against said
bottom surfaces ofsaid ?rst and secondplanar members,
said positioning occurring concurrent With said ?rst and
second planar members reaching said second position,
Whereby said carpet sections are held abutted by said
pins and prevented from an overlapping by said posi
tioning being concurrent to reaching said second posi
tion.
3. The carpet seam clamping apparatus ofclaim 1 Wherein
said means to translational engagement of said ?rst planar
member to said second planar member comprises:
Apr. 16, 2009
said top surface ofsaid ?rst planar member, being substan
tially in the same plane as said top surface ofsaid second
planar member;
a ?rst elongated member engagedto saidtop surface ofsaid
?rst planar member slidably engaged With a second
elongated member engaged to said top surface of said
second planar member;
a handle, said handle having a ?rst end and a second end,
said ?rst end rotatably engaged at a ?rst rotation point,
With one of said ?rst elongated member or said second
elongated member;
a connecting member having a ?rst end and a second end,
said ?rst end of said connecting member rotationally
engaged at a second point, With the other of said ?rst
elongated member or said second elongated member
from that of said ?rst end of said handle;
said second end of said connecting member rotatably
engaged at a third point, to a middle portion of said
handle in-betWeen said ?rst end and said second end of
said handle; and
Whereby a rotation of said handle from a substantially
vertical to said plane, aWay from said connecting mem
ber to a rotated position substantially horizontal to said
plane, Will cause a translation ofsaid ?rst planar member
and said second planar member to said second position.
4. The carpet seam clamping apparatus ofclaim 2 Wherein
said means to translational engagement of said ?rst planar
member to said second planar member comprises:
said top surface ofsaid ?rst planar member, being substan
tially in the same plane as said top surface ofsaid second
planar member;
a ?rst elongated member engagedto saidtop surface ofsaid
?rst planar member slidably engaged With a second
elongated member engaged to said top surface of said
second planar member;
a handle, said handle having a ?rst end and a second end,
said ?rst end rotatably engaged at a ?rst rotation point,
With one of said ?rst elongated member or said second
elongated member;
a connecting member having a ?rst end and a second end,
said ?rst end of said connecting member rotationally
engaged at a second point, With the other of said ?rst
elongated member or said second elongated member
from that of said ?rst end of said handle;
said second end of said connecting member rotatably
engaged at a third point, to a middle portion of said
handle in-betWeen said ?rst end and said second end of
said handle; and
Whereby a rotation of said handle from a substantially
vertical to said plane, aWay from said connecting mem
ber to a rotated position substantially horizontal to said
plane, Will cause a translation ofsaid ?rst planar member
and said second planar member to said second position.
5. The carpet seam clamping apparatus ofclaim 3 Wherein
said means to hold said ?rst planar member and said second
planar member in said second position comprises:
said third point positioned closer to said plane than said
second point, When said handle is in said rotated posi
tion;
said carpet sections imparting a biasing force of said ?rst
planar member aWay from said second planar member
When in said second position; and](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/133da6d6-a01f-4480-80d2-183bd9660be7-170209183227/85/Carpet_Seam_Lock-7-320.jpg)
Carpet_Seam_Lock
- 1. US 20090095943A1 (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2009/0095943 A1 (19) United States Thompson (43) Pub. Date: Apr. 16, 2009 u lcatlon assl cation54 CARPET SEAM LOCK P bl' ' Cl '? ' 51 Int. Cl. (76) Inventor: Sam J. Thompson, Escondido, CA ( ) B65H 77/00 (200601) (Us) (52) us. Cl. ...................................................... .. 254/212 Correspondence Address: (57) ABSTRACT DONN K. HARMS . . . . . . PATENT & TRADEMARK LAW CENTER cagpet seam clampingbdevige for maintainirlijg pre-positione carpet sections a utte at a seam su sequent to (YIZAGCJSRTINA removal ofa carpet stretcherWhichprevents overlapping. The ’ device employs a pair of planar surfaces Which translate toWard each other and lock in position once totally translated. (21) APP1- NO-3 11/973,658 The length oftranslation is equal to or less than the length of pins Which engage into the carpet body thereby preventing (22) Filed: Oct. 10, 2007 Overstretch. ‘I8 /7k 0 o l 1 I '' l9
- 2. Patent Application Publication Apr. 16, 2009 Sheet 1 0f 2 US 2009/0095943 A1 10 24 16 r 23 ‘4 i 12 20 l / k I I 0 o I 18/7A _ I ‘' 77777777’ 19 Fig. 1
- 4. US 2009/0095943 A1 CARPET SEAM LOCK FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The device herein described relates to the installa tion ofcarpet and to a phase in the installation process Where it is necessary to maintain a stretched piece ofcarpet taut and static to adjoining carpet sections, in order to facilitate the drying of the carpet glue While concurrently maintaining sectional alignment betWeen adjoining sections. More spe ci?cally, the device provides a means to secure neWly laid carpet in a stretched position by engaging it to adjoined stretch sections and alloWing patterns and seams to maintain a match during the adhesive drying process. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Carpet has become a very popular Way to cover indoor ?oors ofany scale, and neW styles, colors and patterns are being introduced all the time. Likewise, age-old carpet laying techniques are being re?ned and neW tools introduced. [0003] Most residential carpeting is installed by attaching the end of a roll of carpet to the base of a Wall and stretching it With one of several carpet stretching devices to the other side ofthe room Where it is attached to the base ofthe oppos ing Wall. The carpet is stretched in this fashion to ensure that it lays ?at and Will not be prone to Wrinkling later on. [0004] When carpeting larger scale commercial ?oors, conventionally a different installation technique is used. Whenlarge distances are to be carpeted, the glue-doWn instal lation method is preferred over the stretch method used in smaller rooms ofhomes. In the glue-doWn method, carpet is adhesively attached directly to an underlying substrate such as plyWood sub-?ooring or concrete foundation. The process involves covering the ?ooring substrate in its entirety With adhesive and rolling the carpet onto the ?oor so the backing can bond With the substrate over a de?ned period of time Wherein the carpet may be moved or positioned to its ?nal mounted position on the substrate. [0005] When installing carpet in this fashion Which has a design or pattern formed in the Weave, special installation concerns arise. Carpet, like any textile, falls victim to inherent distortions of pattern and shape Which can be caused during manufacturing, shipping, or poor storage. Common defects that occur in patterned carpet include trueness of edge, boW ing and skeWing ofthe visual pattern. BoWing is the result of the pattern lagging or gaining in the middle ofthe roll Width. SkeWing occurs When the pattern doesn’t line up perpendicu lar to the edge of the carpet roll. Trueness of an edge can be easily recogniZed ifthe edge ofthe carpet forms an ‘S’ shape. In any instance, it is highly impractical to cut out the distor tions and much more effective and e?icient to stretch the carpet section such that its pattern matches appropriately With adjacent carpet sections With the same pattern. [0006] When stretching a section of carpet to match pat terns or correct other distortions, once a ?rst section is in its ?nal position matched to adjacent sections, it must be held in that position until the adhesive or other means for permanent mounting ?xes the relative positions of the different carpet sections. To this end, in commercial installations on concrete surfaces, it is common to temporarily nail the terminating edges of freshly laid adjacent carpet sections to the underly ing ?oor While the adhesive dries. This type of temporary positioning causes a plethora of problems for both the installer and the future occupant. Whether the underlying Apr. 16, 2009 ?oor is plyWood, concrete or even padding, temporarily nail ing the stretchedcarpet sectionis intrusive, noisy and destruc tive. When it is necessary to temporarily nail carpet to the underlying ?oor, the process often deforms or even chips the sub-?ooring, causing mounds or divots once the carpet is laid Which Will eventually damage the carpet and cause tripping from the uneven surface. Concrete is especially prone to this chipping and the process itself causes much unneeded noise at an already loud commercial construction site. [0007] While a number of devices exist Which may be employed to stretch and pull large pieces of carpet toWard each other at a seam, none is Well adapted to simply hold already stretched carpet sections in their relative positions. Conventional carpet stretching devices generally consist of tWo blocks With a plurality of pins extending doWnWard to engage the carpet. These opposing planar blocks providing the pin mounts are engaged to a mechanical levering appara tus providing suf?cient torque to the tWo opposing blocks to pull them a large distance With levers to thereby align the terminating edges of adjacent carpet sections at large carpet seams. While it may be tempting to use these carpet pullers to lock a seam in place While glue dries, several problems inevi tably occur ifthis is done. First, carpet pullers and stretchers are large, cumbersome and have a levering system providing mechanical advantage that is much too poWerful to simply holdthe carpet at the seam. Such carpet pullers are gear driven or employ cams to achieve the mechanical advantage neces sary to pull sometimes hundreds of pounds of individual carpet sections toWard another, each having a very large fric tional engagement With the underlying ?oor or substrate and any adhesive that may be applied. Due to the nature of their design, such carpet pullers inevitably over pull adjacent sec tions of carpet causing them to overlap onto each other at the seam. This overlap, once accomplished, is a major impedi ment to a timely completion ofthe job since both sections of carpet must then be repositioned and then draWn toWard each other in an engagement registering their patterns once again. This constant recurring problem, especially Where conven tional pullers and stretchers are in inexperienced hands, occurs because such stretching devices are designed to pull hundreds or thousands of pounds of carpet sections friction ally or adhesively engaging an underlying ?oor, but not to engage carpet sections already aligned and to simply hold them in registered engagement. [0008] Thus, there is an unmet need for a carpet section positioning device that is adapted to engage With adjacent aligned carpet sections having registered carpet patterns, and to provide a means to hold the carpet sections in registered engagement While the adhesive af?xing their relative posi tions dries during a glue-doWn application. Such a device should be self-limiting as to a distance oftravel ofboth ofthe tWo engaged carpet sections abutted on a seam. Such a device should prevent any damage to the sub-?ooring or any harm of the proximal surfaces. Furthermore, such a device should not pull or stretch the carpet directly but should act only as a means to secure and maintainthe position ofan already pulled or stretched carpet section. Finally, such a device, being engaged When a larger carpet stretcher is removed, should be suf?cient in strength to maintain the large amounts oftorque and force from stretched carpet sections for long periods of time, Without alloWing the carpet to slip. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] There is disclosed and described herein a device used to secure and maintain a carpet seam betWeen tWo adja
- 5. US 2009/0095943 A1 cent sections of carpet, in a registered substantially static engagement, during a glue-doWn application. The device herein is adapted for engagement to, and holding adjacent carpet sections in a static position relative to each other, Without over pulling or causing an overlap of adjacent sec tions on the seam. [0010] The device consists oftWo planarmembers engaged by a means for translation such as a sliding rail alloWing both members to slide toWard and aWay from each other. The device has a lever or handle extending from the sliding engagement Which acts as a means to translate the tWo planar members upon its sliding engagement. The handle is rotation ally engaged to the ?rst member or the rail engaged thereto of the sliding engagement. [0011] Each planar member ofthe device has a plurality of pins extending doWnWard from the bottom surface of the member. These pins preferably have a speci?c length and angle Which are crucial for the optimal operation of the device. Employing a calculated length to the pins at a deter mined angle renders the device substantially incapable of pulling or stretching the carpet further than has already been accomplished by a carpet stretcher being removed. The device thereafter acts only as a means of securing the tWo pieces of carpet at the seam and maintaining their relative positions to each other until removed. [0012] The tWo planar members are connected With a slid ing engagement alloWing the members to easily slide toWard and aWay from one another. As noted, a handle is rotationally engaged at a pin or axle at one member ofthe sliding engage ment. A cross member is then rotationally engaged at a middle portion ofthe handle at a ?rst end. A second end ofthe cross member is engaged to the second sliding member in a rotational engagement. So engaged betWeen the tWo planar members, the handle acts as a means of translating the tWo planar members toWard each other, and on release, aWay from each other When the handle is rotated an opposite direction. [0013] In operation, the device is employed to maintain carpet sections in static positions relative to each other by placing one planar member on one section of carpet on one side ofthe seam, and placing the other planar member oh the other section of carpet on the opposite side ofthe seam. The seam is best located in a central portion of a gap formed betWeen the tWo planar members. [0014] Engagement of the tWo planar members to their respective carpet sections is accomplished by imparting force to a top side ofthe device, opposite the carpet sections, While concurrently rotating the handle. When the handle is rotated toWard the carpet surface from a substantially elevated posi tion to a substantially horizontal position relative to the car pet, the tWo planarmembers translate toWard one another. The pins extending fromthe loWer surface ofeachplanarmember, employing both the translation and the doWnWard force imparted to the device, bite into the carpet as the planar members move toWard each other. Because the pins are of a length and at an angle to cause the carpet to contact the bottom surface ofboth planar members at orjust prior to the ?nish of translation toWard each other, they only engage Within the body ofthe carpet a distance less than or equal to the distance oftranslation ofthe planar members toWard each other. Once in this engaged position, the device effectively locks the car pet sections in place relative to each other, but because they Will not over translate, over pulling causing overlapping of adjacent carpet sections at the seam is prevented. A means to maintainthe device inthe engagedposition is providedby the Apr. 16, 2009 handle being rotated to an angle Wherein it is just past a horiZontal position to the mount of the cross member to the opposite planar member, or slightly over rotated. This over rotated position combined With the pressure against both planar members by the restrained carpet sections imparting pressure force to the handle, provides a means to maintain the device locked in the engaged position. [0015] This unique construction therefore provides a device that Will alloW loW skilled Workers to folloW higher skilled Workers Who use the carpet stretchers. This is because the risk of over stretching a carpet section and ruining the registered engagement betWeen one or more carpet sections is prevented by the limited movement of the tWo planar mem bers toWard each other. [0016] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofthe construction and to the arrangement ofthe components set forth in the folloWing description of illustrated in the draWings. The invention is capable ofother embodiments and ofbeing practiced and carried out in various Ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are forthe purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. [0017] As such, those skilled in the art Will appreciate that the conception upon Which this disclosure is based, may readily be utiliZed as a basis for designing of other methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [0018] It is an object ofthis invention to provide a means to adequately secure tWo adjacent sections ofcarpet at a seam in a ?xed relative engagement. [0019] It is further an object of this invention to secure a carpet seam Without causing damage to the underlying ?oor or proximal surface or to the carpet sections. [0020] It is further an object of this invention to provide a means to secure adjacent sections of carpet at a seam in a manner Which eliminates the possibility of further stretch or overpull of the carpet sections Which can cause overlaps or de-registration ofregistered patterns. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES [0021] FIG. 1 depicts a top perspective vieW ofthe device in a ?rst or disengaged position having a larger gap betWeen the tWo planar members. [0022] FIG. 2 depicts the device from the side as it appears in the disengaged mode ofFIG. 1. The pins rest on top ofthe carpet and the handle is at an elevated angle from the parallel planar members. [0023] FIG. 3 depicts the same side vieW of another mode of the device Wherein the handle has been rotated to engage the device to the carpet sections to a second or engaged position and is held locked in place by the force ofthe carpet sections. [0024] FIG. 4 depicts a side vieW of another mode of the device Wherein the pins are engaged to plates Which are removably engaged to the planar members. Changing the
- 6. US 2009/0095943 A1 plates to those With different pin lengths allows for adjust ment of the pin length if needed to accommodate different carpets. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0025] Referring noW to the drawings in FIGS. 1-4, Wherein similar parts are identi?ed by like reference numer als, the device 10 as shoWn in FIGS. 1-4 consists oftWo planar members 12 and 14 each having a top surface 13 and 15 respectively, and each having a loWer surface 17 and 19 respectively. On the loWer surfaces 17 and 19 of each of the planar members 12 and 14 are located a plurality of pins 26 extending aWay from the loWer surfaces. The pins 26 extend at an angle and have a speci?c length calculated to engage the carpet 11 but not the underlying surface. As shoWn in FIG. 4, the distance D3 is the horiZontal distance created by the angled pins 29 from their pointed distal tip 27 to the base of the pin 29 engaged to the loWer surfaces of the planar mem bers 12 and 14. [0026] As can be seen in FIGS. 1-3, the planar members 12 and 14 are operatively engaged for translation relative to each other by a means ofa translating engagement. This means for translation is shoWn in a particularly preferred mode of the device as in a tWo-piece slide With a ?rst translating member 18 engaged to the ?rst planar member 14 and a second trans lating member 20 Which is slidably engaged With the ?rst translating member 18 and attached to the other planar mem ber 12. A handle 16 is rotationally engaged to the second translating member 20 and to a crossbar 24. [0027] At a mid-section ofthe handle 16 betWeen the rota tional engagement 23 ofthe handle 16 to the second translat ing member 20 and the distal end ofthe handle 16, the cross bar 24 is rotationally engaged on a hinge pin 21 or other means forrotational engagement at one end. The opposite end ofthe crossbar 24 is in a rotational engagement 23 to the ?rst translating member 18. As shoWn, the hinge pin 21 is offthe center axis ofthe handle 16 so as to position the hinge pin 21 loWerthanthe rotational engagement 23 at the opposite end of the crossbar 24 When it is rotated fully to a position substan tially horiZontal to the plane of the top surface 13 but at a slightly declining angle doWnWard toWard the top surface 13. [0028] As can be seen in FIG. 2 a gap is formed by the distance betWeen the planar members 12 and 14 and at its Widest point is depicted as D1. In operation, When the handle 16 is rotated in a direction aWay from the crossbar 24 in a circular motion toWard the carpet 11, the second translating member 20 is pulled toWard the ?rst translating member 18 causing the tWo attached planar members 12 and 14 to trans late a determined short distance toWard each other narroWing the gap by that distance. As can be seen in FIG. 3, after translation ofthe tWo planar members 12 and 14, from a ?rst position spaced further apart, to a second position at their closest proximity, the gap D1 has been narroWed by the trans lated distance to the smaller distance, D2. The gap de?ned by D2 is the distance betWeen the planar members 12 and 14 after the handle 16 has been rotated causing the planar mem bers to translate closer to each other to the second position. [0029] Means to hold the device locked in the engaged or second position is provided by the biasing force of the tWo sections of the carpet 11a and 11b. This force is communi cated to the crossbar 24 Which is engaged to the rotatedhandle 16. The point of rotatable engagement of the crossbar 24 to the handle 16 is slightly beloW the rotational engagement 23 Apr. 16, 2009 of the crossbar 24 to the planar member 14 When the handle 16 is in the rotated position shoWn in FIG. 3. This causes the crossbar 24 to impart the biasing force to pull the handle 16 toWard the top surface 13 of the planar member 12 thereby locking the device 10 in the second or engaged position. [0030] The length and angle ofthe pins 26 directly affects the distance translated by the carpet sections 1111 and 11b When engaged With the tWo planar members 12 and 14. When the device 10 is placed on the tWo separate pieces ofcarpet 11 & 11b, the pins 26 rest on top ofthe carpet as can be seen in FIG. 2. When the device is employed, the handle 16 is rotated aWay from the crossbar 24 and pushedtoWard the ground. The translation of the planar members 12 and 14 caused by the depression ofthe handle 16 forces the pins 26 to bite into the carpet 11 material. Due to the angled nature of the pins 26, and their length matching the distance oftravel ofthe planar members 12 and 14, as the pins 26 slide doWn into the carpet 11, they alloW translation of one planar member toWard the other planar member but Without forcing the carpet sections 1111 and 11b toWard each other. Forming the pins 26 to a length to slide at an angle into the carpet 11 While the tWo planar members translate toWard each other, and having the top surface of the carpet 11 contacting the bottom of the planar members concurrently With the travel distance of the tWo planar members toWard each other, substantially prohib its the device from forcing the pre-positioned carpet sections 1111 and 11b toWard the seam 9 and provides a means to prevent overlapping of the seam 9 betWeen the tWo carpet sections 1111 and 11b. This solves the previous noted prob lems of prior art Where a mis-adjusted carpet stretcher Will mis-align the seam and cause overlapping Which can take much time to correct. [0031] By limiting the total translation distance ofthe tWo planar members 12 and 14 as alloWed by the handle 16 and using a speci?c angle and length of pins 26, the pins 26 are able to sink into the carpet 11a distance equal to the transla tion ofthe planar members 12 and 14 themselves. As the pins 26 bite into the carpet, they are thus only alloWed to penetrate the carpet 11a distance equal to or less than the translation of the tWo planar members 12 and 14 toWards each other. By limiting the amount of translation by the planar members 12 and 14 and penetration of the pins 26, the device 10 is pro vided a means to prevent overpull or overlap ofthe tWo pieces ofcarpet 11a and 11b as traditional commercial carpet pullers are prone to do. Also, since the length of the pins 26 is calculated to never fully penetrate the carpet 11 there is no risk of damaging the underlying ?oor. [0032] It is envisioned that because of the many types of carpet 11 commercially available, pins of different length may be required to accommodate a thin carpet or thick carpet With the same device 10. As shoWn in FIG. 4, the pins 26 may be removably engaged to the planar members 12 and 14 to alloW for this adjustment. As depicted in a favored embodi ment of FIG. 4, the pins 26 Would be engaged to a plate 30. The plate 30 is then removably engaged to the planar mem bers 12 and 14. The plates 30 canbe provided in a kit featuring a plurality ofplates 30, each member ofthe plurality having different lengthpins 26 and eachremovably engageableto the planar members 12 and 14 using means for removable engagement such as a screW (not shoWn). [0033] Or in a particularly preferred mode ofthe device 10, the plate 30 can have tWo sets of pins 26 thereon in similar angled engagements. Slots 32 in the planar members 12 and 14 Would be placed to engage the pins 26 ofthe non-used side
- 7. US 2009/0095943 A1 ofthe plate 30. By making one set ofpins 26 shorter than the other, the device 10 can change the pin length by ?ipping the plate 30, thereby allowing Workers to accommodate a plural ity ofcarpet thicknesses by simply ?ipping over the plate 20. The slots, 32 Would in this case be equal to, or slightly longer than the length ofthe longer ofthe tWo sets ofpins 26 on the plate 30 to alloW the plates 16 to engage the planar members With either set of pins 26. [0034] While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the carpet section locking apparatus and method have been described herein, With reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modi?cation, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing dis closure and it Will be apparent that in some instance, some features of the invention Will be employed Without a corre sponding use of other features Without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should be understood that such substitutions, modi?cations, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention. Consequently, all such modi ?cations and variations are included Within the scope of the invention as de?ned herein. What is claimed is: 1. A carpet seam clamping apparatus for holding pre-posi tioned carpet sections abutted at a seam in position subse quent to removal of a carpet stretcher, comprising: a ?rst planar member having a top surface and bottom surface; a second planar member having a top surface and bottom surface; means for translational engagement of said ?rst planar member to said second planar member betWeen a ?rst position and a second position; a gap betWeen said ?rst planar member and said second planarmember, said gap reduced by a ?rst distance When said ?rst planar member and second planar member are translated to said second position; a plurality of pins projecting to distal ends from engage ment points on said bottom surfaces of said ?rst planar member and said second planar member, each of said pins having a lengthbetWeen said engagement point and said distal ends; means to hold said ?rst planar member and said second planar member in said second position; and Wherein, said clamping apparatus engages With tWo pre positioned carpet sections abutting a seam by translating said ?rst and second planar members to said second position thereby causing said pins to pierce said carpet sections for said length of said pins during said transla tion from said ?rst position to said second position. 2. The carpet seam clamping apparatus ofclaim 1 addition ally comprising: said length of said pins being siZed cause a positioning ofa top surface of said abutting carpet sections against said bottom surfaces ofsaid ?rst and secondplanar members, said positioning occurring concurrent With said ?rst and second planar members reaching said second position, Whereby said carpet sections are held abutted by said pins and prevented from an overlapping by said posi tioning being concurrent to reaching said second posi tion. 3. The carpet seam clamping apparatus ofclaim 1 Wherein said means to translational engagement of said ?rst planar member to said second planar member comprises: Apr. 16, 2009 said top surface ofsaid ?rst planar member, being substan tially in the same plane as said top surface ofsaid second planar member; a ?rst elongated member engagedto saidtop surface ofsaid ?rst planar member slidably engaged With a second elongated member engaged to said top surface of said second planar member; a handle, said handle having a ?rst end and a second end, said ?rst end rotatably engaged at a ?rst rotation point, With one of said ?rst elongated member or said second elongated member; a connecting member having a ?rst end and a second end, said ?rst end of said connecting member rotationally engaged at a second point, With the other of said ?rst elongated member or said second elongated member from that of said ?rst end of said handle; said second end of said connecting member rotatably engaged at a third point, to a middle portion of said handle in-betWeen said ?rst end and said second end of said handle; and Whereby a rotation of said handle from a substantially vertical to said plane, aWay from said connecting mem ber to a rotated position substantially horizontal to said plane, Will cause a translation ofsaid ?rst planar member and said second planar member to said second position. 4. The carpet seam clamping apparatus ofclaim 2 Wherein said means to translational engagement of said ?rst planar member to said second planar member comprises: said top surface ofsaid ?rst planar member, being substan tially in the same plane as said top surface ofsaid second planar member; a ?rst elongated member engagedto saidtop surface ofsaid ?rst planar member slidably engaged With a second elongated member engaged to said top surface of said second planar member; a handle, said handle having a ?rst end and a second end, said ?rst end rotatably engaged at a ?rst rotation point, With one of said ?rst elongated member or said second elongated member; a connecting member having a ?rst end and a second end, said ?rst end of said connecting member rotationally engaged at a second point, With the other of said ?rst elongated member or said second elongated member from that of said ?rst end of said handle; said second end of said connecting member rotatably engaged at a third point, to a middle portion of said handle in-betWeen said ?rst end and said second end of said handle; and Whereby a rotation of said handle from a substantially vertical to said plane, aWay from said connecting mem ber to a rotated position substantially horizontal to said plane, Will cause a translation ofsaid ?rst planar member and said second planar member to said second position. 5. The carpet seam clamping apparatus ofclaim 3 Wherein said means to hold said ?rst planar member and said second planar member in said second position comprises: said third point positioned closer to said plane than said second point, When said handle is in said rotated posi tion; said carpet sections imparting a biasing force of said ?rst planar member aWay from said second planar member When in said second position; and
- 8. US 2009/0095943 A1 said connecting membercommunicating saidbiasing force to said handle causing at said third point to thereby bias said handle toward said rotated position. 6. The carpet seam clamping apparatus ofclaim 4 Wherein said means to hold said ?rst planar member and said second planar member in said second position comprises: said third point positioned closer to said plane than said second point, When said handle is in said rotated posi tion; said carpet sections imparting a biasing force of said ?rst planar member aWay from said second planar member When in said second position; and said connecting membercommunicating saidbiasing force to said handle causing at said third point to thereby bias said handle toWard said rotated position. 7. The carpet seam clamping apparatus ofclaim 3 addition ally comprising: said engagement points of each of said plurality of pins extending from said ?rst and second planar members each being engaged With a respective plate; and each said respective plate being removably engageable With a respective said bottom surface of said ?rst planar member and staid second planar member. 8. The carpet seam clamping apparatus ofclaim 4 addition ally comprising: said engagement points of each of said plurality of pins extending from said ?rst and second planar members each being engaged With a respective plate; and each said respective plate being removably engageable With a respective said bottom surface of said ?rst planar member and staid second planar member. 9. The carpet seam clamping apparatus ofclaim 5 addition ally comprising: said engagement points of each of said plurality of pins extending from said ?rst and second planar members each being engaged With a respective plate; and each said respective plate being removably engageable With a respective said bottom surface of said ?rst planar member and staid second planar member. 10. The carpet seam clamping apparatus of claim 6 addi tionally comprising: said engagement points of each of said plurality of pins extending from said ?rst and second planar members each being engaged With a respective plate; and each said respective plate being removably engageable With a respective said bottom surface of said ?rst planar member and staid second planar member. 11. The carpet seam clamping apparatus of claim 9 addi tionally comprising: a kit having a plurality of pairs of said plates, each said pairs having a said plurality of said pins having a differ ent said length; Apr. 16, 2009 said different length accommodating said carpet sections having different thicknesses Whereby said lengths of said plurality of pins extending from said bottom sur faces of said ?rst and second planar member, may be changed by attaching a different said pair of plates to said ?rst and second planar members. 12. The carpet seam clamping apparatus of claim 10 addi tionally comprising: a kit having a plurality of pairs of said plates, each said pairs having a said plurality of said pins having a differ ent said length; said different length accommodating said carpet sections having different thicknesses Whereby said lengths of said plurality of pins extending from said bottom sur faces of said ?rst and second planar member, may be changed by attaching a different said pair of plates to said ?rst and second planar members. 13. The carpet seam clamping apparatus of claim 9 addi tionally comprising: a said plurality ofpins extending from each oftWo sides of each said plate; said plurality of pins on a ?rst of said tWo sides having a said length longer than a said plurality ofpins extending from the other of said tWo sides of said plate; a plurality of slots formed in said bottom surface of said ?rst and said second planar members; said slots having a length at least as long as said plurality of pins on said ?rst side of said plate; said slots positionedto engage each ofsaid plurality ofpins on both sides of said plate; and Whereby said plates may be engaged to said bottom sur faces of said planar members on either of said tWo sides to thereby change said length of said pins extending from said bottom surfaces. 14. The carpet seam clamping apparatus of claim 10 addi tionally comprising: a said plurality ofpins extending from each oftWo sides of each said plate; said plurality of pins on a ?rst of said tWo sides having a said length longer than a said plurality ofpins extending from the other of said tWo sides of said plate; a plurality of slots formed in said bottom surface of said ?rst and said second planar members; said slots having a length at least as long as said plurality of pins on said ?rst side of said plate; said slots positionedto engage each ofsaid plurality ofpins on both sides of said plate; and Whereby said plates may be engaged to said bottom sur faces of said planar members on either of said tWo sides to thereby change said length of said pins extending from said bottom surfaces. * * * * *