TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a carpet stripping apparatus and, more particularly, an improved self- propelled carpet stripping apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

Most conventional carpet stripping machines utilize reciprocating blade members to perform the stripping. Examples of such machines are shown in the Anderson et al U.S. Patent No. 4,683,657 and Anderson U.S. Patent No. 4,626,033. An oscillating head for a floor stripping machine is shown in the Grass U.S. Patent No. 4,669,784. Carpet strippers of this type tend to pull apart the carpet being stripped. A similar reciprocating blade member concept for stripping has been employed in the reciprocating shingle remover of Sanchez U.S. Patent No. 4,277,104. All such reciprocating type machines are noisy and none are self- propelled.

In U.S. Patent No. 4,394,052 to Adams et al, a carpet take-up device disclosed in which a cable hooked to an edge of a carpet across the room is used to propel the device forward as a spool is rotated to wind up the cable. As the device is moved forward, a horizontally disposed blade separates the carpet from :' ;s supporting surface. This type of an arrangement is not self-contained and only works when the carpet being stripped has enough strength in its fibers to provide an anchor for pulling the device toward the anchor as the blade separates the carpet from the supporting surface.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved carpet stripping apparatus of simple construction that is propelled by passing the lifted carpet between driven rollers, requires low maintenance, is quiet and safe.

In carrying out the above objects, the carpet stripping apparatus comprises a frame having forward and rearward ends and also having opposite sides. The frame includes a handle extending from the frame for guiding and maneuvering the carpet stripping apparatus. A pair of driven rollers is mounted on the frame for rotation about horizontally disposed parallel axes. The rollers are reversibly driven for counter-rotation with respect to each other and are operable for receiving a loose end of a carpet to be stripped from its supporting surface between the rollers. The rollers propel the apparatus forward as the carpet is fed through the rollers. A pair of knives mounted on the frame, one near each side, cuts the carpet into an elongated strip as the carpet stripping apparatus is propelled forward.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the carpet stripping apparatus includes front and rear support wheels for supporting the frame. A spring action top roller tension assembly mounted on the frame allows application and adjustment of a clamping action on the carpet between the rollers. Preferably these rollers are textured rollers which facilitate grasping the carpet between the rollers. Most preferably the textured rollers are non-crowned drum rollers.

An electric motor coupled to the driven rollers drives the rollers. A switch mounted on the

handle actuates the motor. Preferably, the electric motor is a direct current electric motor which can be operated in forward and reverse rotational directions. The ability to change the rotational directions of the motor allows the rotational direction of the rollers to be controlled which allows the carpet being fed between the rollers to be released if necessary. A safety switch mounted on the frame is cooperable with one of the reversibly driven rollers and terminates the rotation of the rollers if the spacing between the rollers exceeds a preset distance.

A method for stripping adhering carpet from a supporting surface using the aforementioned carpet stripping apparatus includes the steps of cutting the carpet on the supporting surface into one or more elongated strips. A short section of one of the strips is manually freed from the supporting surface. The short freed section of carpet is fed between the driven rollers so that the strip of carpet is pulled up and separated from the supporting surface as the rollers are driven.

The spring action top roller tension assembly can be adjusted to assure proper clamping of the carpet between the rollers and the rotation of the driven rollers causes the apparatus to be propelled forward and to thereby pull carpet off the supporting surface as the apparatus moves forward.

Preferably, the carpeting is pulled up at an acute angle approaching a right angle to the supporting surface as the carpet passes between the driven rollers.

The objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a carpet stripping apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the stripping apparatus illustrating the travel of cut carpet through the apparatus;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the apparatus; FIGURE 4 is a frontal view of the apparatus illustrating a pair of driven rollers;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional perspective view of the front of the apparatus illustrating the rollers, a spring action top roller tension assembly and a pair of knives mounted for cutting the carpet into an elongated strip;

FIGURE 6 is a frontal view of the apparatus illustrating textured rollers; and

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the apparatus illustrating a safety switch assembly cooperable with the textured rollers.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGURES 1 through 7 of the drawings, a carpet stripping apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10 and is used to strip carpet from a supporting surface. As is more fully

hereinafter described, the carpet stripping apparatus 10 is propelled by the stripping action.

As shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the carpet stripping apparatus 10 includes a frame 12, having forward end and rearward ends 14,16. Frame 12 also has opposite sides indicated by reference numeral 18 and 18'. The frame 12 includes a handle 20 that extends from the rearward end 16 of the frame 12 and is used for guiding and maneuvering the carpet stripping apparatus 10 during operation.

With further reference to FIGURE 1 and with reference to FIGURES 4 through 6, a pair of driven rollers 22 is mounted, one at an upper and the other at a lower relative position, on frame 12 for rotation about horizontally disposed parallel axes. Rollers 22 are driven for counter-rotation with respect to each other and are operable for receiving a loose end of a carpet between the rollers, as shown in FIGURE 5. The rotational direction of rollers 22 is controllable as hereinafter described. Preferably rollers 22 have a textured surface as illustrated in FIGURE 6 to facilitate grasping the carpet to be stripped. Most preferably rollers 22 are non-crowned drum rollers.

The rollers 22 propel the apparatus 10 forward as the carpet is fed through the rollers, the carpet having been pulled up from its supporting surface. A pair of knives 24, seen at FIGURE 5, is mounted on the frame 12. Each knife 24 is mounted near one of the sides 18,18 ^■ and cuts the carpet into an elongated strip as the carpet stripping apparatus is propelled forward. These knives 24 are adjustable and are most effective when adjusted to cut the carpet in close proximity above the supporting surface.

With reference to FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings, the carpet stripping apparatus 10 includes a rear support wheel 26 for supporting the frame and facilitating maneuverability of the apparatus. Also included are front support wheels 28 which also support the frame and maintain the elevation of the driven rollers 22 above the surface that supports the carpet being stripped. These front support wheels 28 are adjustable relative to the frame 12 to thereby adjust the elevation of the frame 12 and driven rollers to accommodate carpet of different thicknesses.

With further reference to FIGURE 2 and with reference to FIGURE 7 of the drawings, the carpet stripping apparatus 10 further includes a spring action top roller tension assembly 30 mounted on the frame 12. The spring action top roller tension assembly 30 allows the application and adjustment of a clamping force on the carpet between the rollers 22 to thereby assure that the carpet is properly gripped between the rollers and as an adjustment for stripping carpet of various thicknesses. A safety switch 31, best seen in FIGURE 7, is mounted on the frame 12 and is cooperable with one of the reversibly driven rollers 22. Safety switch 31 terminates the rotation of the rollers 22 if the spacing between the rollers exceeds a preset distance.

With reference to FIGURE 3 of the drawings, the carpet stripping apparatus 10 further includes an electric motor 32 coupled to the driven rollers 22 to drive the rollers and thereby pull the carpet up off its supporting surface and propel the apparatus forward. Coupling is accomplished via a chain 34 communicating rotational output of a gear reduction box 36, connected to motor 32, to the rollers 22 so that the rollers are positively driven. Preferably, electric motor 32 is a

direct current motor which can be operated in forward and reverse rotational directions to change the rotational direction of rollers 22.

With reference to FIGURE 4 of the drawings, handle 20 includes a switch 38 that actuates the motor. Switch 38 is a safety switch which requires manipulation by an operator to maintain operation of apparatus 10. If the operator lets go of the handle 20, operation of apparatus 10 is terminated.

Operation of the Invention

With reference to drawing FIGURES 1 through 5, carpet is stripped from a supporting surface using the hereinabove carpet stripping apparatus 10 by cutting the carpet on its supporting surface into one or more elongated strips. A short section of one of the elongated strips is freed from its supporting surface. Usually about six inches of carpet is sufficient. The short section of carpet is self-fed and clamped between the reversibly driven rollers 22. The counter- rotational action of the driven rollers 22 pulls the carpet off its supporting surface at an outer angle approaching a right angle to the supporting surface and causes the carpet stripping apparatus 10 to be moved forward as the carpet is passed between the rollers.

Adjusting the spring action top roller tension assembly 30 assures proper clamping of the carpet between the rollers 22. As the carpet stripping apparatus 10 is propelled forward knives 24 cut the carpet to be stripped from its supporting surface into an elongated strip which is passed up and over the lower roller and between the rollers 22. The cut carpet continues feeding through the rollers 22 and back to the

supporting surface behind the apparatus 10. After a pass is made with the carpet stripping apparatus 10, the elongated strip of cut carpet is easily disposed of by rolling the cut strip up by hand. If an object on the carpet or in the carpet gets caught between the rollers 22, safety switch 31 causes the rotation of the rollers to cease and the electric motor 32 can be operated in a reverse direction to back out the obstruction from between the rollers.

While the best mode for carrying out the invention has been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize alternative ways of practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.