APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING AND THEN FIXING FLOORBOARDS RELATIVE TO AN UNDERLYING SUBSTRATE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus for positioning and then fixing floorboards relative to an underlying substrate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known to mount floorboards onto an existing floor surface, or even directly onto floor joists, using a combination of glue and staples or nails.

Typically, the floorboards include a "tongue-and-groove" construction such that each floorboard has a female groove along one edge, and a male "tongue" protrusion along the other edge. It is, of course, important that each floorboard is fully engaged with its neighbour such that each tongue is fully received in the groove of the adjacent floorboard and such that no gap exists between adjacent floorboards. This generally requires that a significant compressive force be manually applied to the floorboards prior to, and during, the fixing process. This is particularly true when the floorboards are bent or twisted.

Historically, this compressive force has been generated by hand with the assistance of a chisel which is dug into the underlying substrate, and then used

as a lever to exert the compressive force on the floorboard. Whilst a first tradesman manually applies this compressive force, a second tradesman will fix the floorboard in place with a nail, staple or the like. If glue is also used, then over time the glue will cure and assist in retaining the floorboard in place.

There have been attempts to develop devices to assist the above-discussed process for positioning the floorboard prior to fixing.

For example, Australian Patent Application 13,886/23 in the name of Pharo teaches a mechanical jack arrangement in which the jack is mounted on a floor joist. The jack includes a manually operated lever, and operates according to a simple ratchet and pawl mechanism in order to compress the floorboards.

Similarly, Australian Patent 111371 in the name of lggulden teaches a threaded jack which is designed to push off a wall and compress floorboards, lggulden also teaches what he calls a kedge or grip device 13 which is designed for gripping the last few floorboards which are closest to the wall being pushed off.

More recently, International Application PCT/AU2005/001179 in the name of Gaunt has taught a mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic jack which pushes off a wall in order to compress floorboards. Gaunt also teaches the use of a device to grip the last few floorboards which are closest to the wall being pushed off.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that such art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

None of the foregoing prior art devices has been accepted by tradesman as a viable alternative to the manual approach discussed above. The present invention aims to provide an apparatus which is simple and fast to use, which can be used by a single tradesman, and which is significantly superior to the manual approach.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides an apparatus for positioning and then fixing floorboards relative to an underlying substrate according to the following claims. Preferred features of the invention will be apparent from the dependant claims and from the following description of the preferred embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in a non-limiting manner with respect to a preferred embodiment in which:-

FIG 1A is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG 1 B is a reverse perspective view of the apparatus;

FIGS 2A and 2B are sequential underside perspective views of the apparatus;

FIGS 3A-3C are sequential schematic side views showing the apparatus in operation; and

FIG 3D illustrates how the apparatus can be used to position the last few floorboards which are closest to a wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the FIGS, there is illustrated an apparatus 10 for positioning and then fixing floorboards 12 relative to a substrate 14.

The base of apparatus 10 includes an anchor portion 16 and a floorboard- engaging portion 18.

As can be best seen in FIGS 2A and 2B, anchor portion 16 is generally U- shaped in plan. Located in the "base" of the U-shaped anchor portion 16 is a bed of downwardly-extending spikes 20. Each of the lateral "arms" of the U- shaped anchor portion 16 extends in a forward direction and straddles the floorboard-engaging portion 18 as will be discussed in more detail below. A pneumatic actuator 22 is located laterally adjacent to each of the "arms" of the U-shaped anchor portion. The pneumatic actuators 22 are operable to move

the floorboard-engaging portion 18 from the retracted position shown in FIGS 2A and 3A to the extended position shown in FIGS 2B and 3B.

Extending upwardly from anchor portion 16 is a pair of uprights 24. The upper ends of the uprights 24 are joined by a crossbar 26. The crossbar 26 and uprights 24 are braced by a pair of braces 28.

Extending upwardly from the crossbar 26 is a post 30 which terminates at approximately waist height in a handlebar 32. Handlebar 32 includes control mechanisms for the apparatus which will be described below. In other embodiments, the post 30 may be foldable or telescope-able in order to facilitate compact storage of the apparatus 10.

As will be best seen in FIGS 2A and 2B, the floorboard-engaging portion 18 is generally Y-shaped in plan. The "base" of the Y-shaped floorboard-engaging portion 18 is slidably received between the straddling "arms" of the U-shaped anchor portion 16 and is keyed thereto. In this regard, whilst it is not shown in FIG 2B, the lateral faces of the "base" of the Y-shaped floorboard-engaging portion 18 are keyed to be complementary in shape to the medial faces of the corresponding "arms" of the U-shaped anchor portion 16. By this mechanism, the movement of the floorboard-engaging portion 18 relative to the anchor portion 16 is restricted to the fore-aft direction. Of course, the operation of the pneumatic actuators 22 controls this fore-aft movement. It is preferred that a lubricating liner, such as Teflon®, is provided intermediate the anchor portion 16 and floorboard-engaging portion 18

As can be best seen in FIGS 2A and 2B, the forward end of the Y-shaped floorboard-engaging portion 18 is bifurcated and configured to engage the tongue side of a tongue-and-groove floorboard. The forward end of each of the bifurcated arms of the Y-shaped floorboard-engaging portion 18 includes adaptor blocks 34 which can be selected to match the geometry of the floorboard. By this mechanism, different sized floorboards can be readily accommodated by changing or removing adaptor blocks 34.

A fixing device 36, in the form of a pneumatically powered staple gun, is mounted on the floorboard-engaging portion 18 via brackets 38 which extend upwardly from floorboard-engaging portion 18 and which are again best seen in FIGS 2A and 2B. Thus, fixing device 36 moves in the fore-aft direction in concert with the floorboard-engaging portion 18.

As is conventional in staple guns and nail guns, the forward end of the fixing device 36 includes a safely bar 40. It will be noted that, when the floorboard- engaging portion engages a floorboard 12, the safely bar 40 is depressed and the fixing device 36 can then be fired. Also, as is conventional, the fixing device 36 includes a magazine 42 which houses staples 44. As can be best seen in FIG 3A, the fixing device 36 also includes a trigger 46 which is cable-operated as will be discussed below.

The pneumatic supply to the pneumatic actuators 22 and the pneumatically- powered fixing device 36 will now be discussed. With initial reference to FIG

1 B, a mains supply of compressed air is supplied to the apparatus 10 via snap fitting 48. Immediately downstream of snap fitting 48 is a first pneumatic splitter 50. This first pneumatic splitter 50 divides the supply into two streams for the pneumatic actuators 22 and pneumatic fixing device 36, respectively.

The stream for the pneumatic actuators 22 travels upwardly from first pneumatic splitter 50 to a pressure regulator 52 via a conventional pneumatic hose. Pressure regulator 52 includes a pressure adjustment knob 54 and a pressure gauge 56. The pressure regulator is used to ensure that the mains supply is regulated down to a pressure which is suitable for use in the actuators 22. In this regard, an excessive pressure may damage the floorboards.

From pressure regulator 52, the stream for the pneumatic actuators 22 continues its upward journey to pneumatic switch 58 via another conventional pneumatic hose. Pneumatic switch 58 includes a manually actuable control lever 60, the operation of which will be discussed below.

From pneumatic switch 58, the stream for pneumatic actuators 22 travels downwardly to a second pneumatic splitter 62 which can be best seen in FIG 1 A. Second pneumatic splitter 62 splits the stream into streams for the left and right hand side pneumatic actuators 22, respectively.

In the preferred embodiment, the pneumatic actuators 22 are single-acting, spring-biased actuators. Hence, when pneumatic pressure is supplied to the actuators 22, the actuators operate to extend the floorboard-engaging portion

18 to the position shown in FIG 2B and 3B. However, when pneumatic pressure is dis-continued, the actuators return under spring-bias to the retratced position shown in FIG 1A and 2A.

The supply of pneumatic pressure to the pneumatic fixing device 36 will now be described. With reference again initially to FIG 1B, the stream for the pneumatic fixing device 36 extends initially in the forward direction from first pneumatic splitter 50 via a conventional pneumatic hose which then extends upwardly and passes from the right hand side of the apparatus 10 to the left hand side of the apparatus 10 by passing through the crossbar 26 which is formed from a hollow aluminium pipe. After emerging from the left hand side of the crossbar, the pneumatic hose returns to a central position whereat it joins the butt of the pistol-shaped, pneumatic fixing device 36.

The control of the pneumatic fixing device 36 will now be described with reference to FIG 1A and FIG 3A. As can be seen in FIG 1A, located on the right hand side of handlebar 32 is a lever 64 of the type typically found on a bicycle, for example. Lever 64 is operatively connected with sheathed cable 66 which may be, for example, a so-called "Bowden" cable of the type typically used on bicycles. The other end of sheathed cable 66 is operatively connected with the trigger 46 of the pneumatic fixing device 36, as can be best seen in schematic illustration in FIG 3A.

In the embodiment illustrated, the entire apparatus weighs approximately 8kg and is accordingly readily portable by a single person. The anchor portion 16

and floorboard-engaging portion 18 are each manufactured from machined aluminium. The uprights 24, crossbar 26, braces 28, post 30 and handlebar are all made from hollow aluminium tubes. The pneumatic staple gun is essentially a conventional gun other than the fact that it is mounted to the floorboard- engaging portion 18 via brackets 38 and is triggered remotely via lever 64 and cable 66.

The operation of the apparatus 10 will now be described.

Preliminary setup of the apparatus 10 involves connecting the apparatus to pneumatic supply via snap fitting 48, adjusting the pressure to the actuators 22 via manipulating pressure regulator 52 as appropriate, and ensuring that staples 44 are present in the magazine 42 of the fixing device 36.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG 3A, the apparatus 10 is placed in position on substrate 14, which may be either an existing floor (eg. plywood) or may be a floor joist. It will be understood that the apparatus must be placed close to the floorboard 12, as the travel of the actuators 22, and hence the travel of the floorboard-engaging portion 18, is limited. In the preferred embodiment, the travel is approximately 60mm.

With reference to FIG 3A, it will be noted that the user places their foot on top of the anchor portion 16 to ensure that the spikes 20 are well engaged with the substrate 14.

Control lever 60 is then squeezed by the left hand of the user such that the lever 60 is pulled upwardly towards handlebar 32. This has the effect of opening pneumatic switch 58 and supplying pneumatic pressure to each of the actuators 22. Floorboard-engaging portion 18 accordingly moves to the extended position illustrated in FIG 3B. Simultaneously, safety bar 40 on the fixing device 36 is urged into engagement with the floorboard such that the safety bar is depressed and the fixing device 36 can be fired.

The user then squeezes lever 64 with their right hand such that the lever is pulled upwardly towards the right hand side of the handlebar 32. This has the effect of pulling sheathed cable 66 and hence squeezing the trigger 46 of the fixing device 36. With reference to FIG 3C, the fixing device 36 fires a staple 44 at the pre-selected angle (typically 45 degrees) through the tongue of the floorboard 12 and into the substrate 14.

Thereafter, the user releases both lever 64 and lever 60. Upon release of lever 60, the pneumatic pressure to the actuators 22 is released and they, together with the floorboard engaging portion 18, return to the original retracted position shown in FIG 2A. Note that a coverplate 68 is mounted on the top surface of anchor portion 16. This coverplate 68 covers the gap that opens up between anchor portion 16 and floorboard-engaging portion 18 when the floorboard- engaging portion 18 moves to the extended position. By doing this, it ensures that the user's foot is not pinched or crushed between the anchor portion 16 and floorboard-engaging portion 18 as the latter returns to the retracted post-use position.

FIG 3D shows how the apparatus 10 can be used to assist in the positioning of the last few floorboards which are closest to a wall. As can be seen, the anchor portion 16 can be butted against a wall rather than engaged with the substrate 14 via the spikes 20. It will be noted that the last floorboards are located behind the floorboard-engaging portion 18 and, as a result, an adaptor bracket 70 is used to engage the last floorboards. Adaptor bracket 70 passes rearwardly under the apparatus and is urged into engagement with the floorboard upon operation of the actuators in the usual manner. In this case, the safely bar 40 of the fixing device 36 is not depressed and the fixing device cannot be operated. Rather, in this case, it is necessary that the floorboard be fixed via other means.

It will be understood that the above-discussed embodiment of the invention is by way of non-limiting illustration only. For example, the pneumatic actuators and fixing device may be replaced by their hydraulic of electrical equivalents. Similarly, whilst the anchor portion and floorboard-engaging portion have been illustrated as being U-shaped and Y-shaped plates, respectively, they could be any shape. Whilst the underside of the anchor portion has been shown with spikes, any other arrangement which achieves a high co-efficient of friction with the substrate could be used.

Finally, throughout this specification and the claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" and its variations, such as "comprises" and "comprising," will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step

or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.