Carpet seam lock

Abstract

A carpet seam clamping device for maintaining pre-positioned carpet sections abutted at a seam subsequent to removal of a carpet stretcher which prevents overlapping. The device employs a pair of planar surfaces which translate toward each other and lock in position once totally translated. The length of translation is equal to or less than the length of pins which engage into the carpet body thereby preventing overstretch.

1 . A carpet seam clamping apparatus for holding pre-positioned carpet sections abutted at a seam in position subsequent to removal of a carpet stretcher, comprising:
 a first 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 first planar member to said second planar member between a first position and a second position;   a gap between said first planar member and said second planar member, said gap reduced by a first distance when said first planar member and second planar member are translated to said second position;   a plurality of pins projecting to distal ends from engagement points on said bottom surfaces of said first planar member and said second planar member, each of said pins having a length between said engagement point and said distal ends;   means to hold said first 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 first 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 translation from said first position to said second position.   
   
   
       2 . The carpet seam clamping apparatus of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 said length of said pins being sized cause a positioning of a top surface of said abutting carpet sections against said bottom surfaces of said first and second planar members, said positioning occurring concurrent with said first 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 positioning being concurrent to reaching said second position.   
   
   
       3 . The carpet seam clamping apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said means to translational engagement of said first planar member to said second planar member comprises:
 said top surface of said first planar member, being substantially in the same plane as said top surface of said second planar member;   a first elongated member engaged to said top surface of said first 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 first end and a second end, said first end rotatably engaged at a first rotation point, with one of said first elongated member or said second elongated member;   a connecting member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said connecting member rotationally engaged at a second point, with the other of said first elongated member or said second elongated member from that of said first 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 first 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 member to a rotated position substantially horizontal to said plane, will cause a translation of said first planar member and said second planar member to said second position.   
   
   
       4 . The carpet seam clamping apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said means to translational engagement of said first planar member to said second planar member comprises:
 said top surface of said first planar member, being substantially in the same plane as said top surface of said second planar member;   a first elongated member engaged to said top surface of said first 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 first end and a second end, said first end rotatably engaged at a first rotation point, with one of said first elongated member or said second elongated member;   a connecting member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said connecting member rotationally engaged at a second point, with the other of said first elongated member or said second elongated member from that of said first 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 first 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 member to a rotated position substantially horizontal to said plane, will cause a translation of said first planar member and said second planar member to said second position.   
   
   
       5 . The carpet seam clamping apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said means to hold said first 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 position;   said carpet sections imparting a biasing force of said first planar member away from said second planar member when in said second position; and   said connecting member communicating said biasing force to said handle causing at said third point to thereby bias said handle toward said rotated position.   
   
   
       6 . The carpet seam clamping apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said means to hold said first 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 position;   said carpet sections imparting a biasing force of said first planar member away from said second planar member when in said second position; and   said connecting member communicating said biasing force to said handle causing at said third point to thereby bias said handle toward said rotated position.   
   
   
       7 . The carpet seam clamping apparatus of  claim 3  additionally comprising:
 said engagement points of each of said plurality of pins extending from said first 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 first planar member and staid second planar member.   
   
   
       8 . The carpet seam clamping apparatus of  claim 4  additionally comprising:
 said engagement points of each of said plurality of pins extending from said first 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 first planar member and staid second planar member.   
   
   
       9 . The carpet seam clamping apparatus of  claim 5  additionally comprising:
 said engagement points of each of said plurality of pins extending from said first 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 first planar member and staid second planar member.   
   
   
       10 . The carpet seam clamping apparatus of  claim 6  additionally comprising:
 said engagement points of each of said plurality of pins extending from said first 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 first planar member and staid second planar member.   
   
   
       11 . The carpet seam clamping apparatus of  claim 9  additionally comprising:
 a kit having a plurality of pairs of said plates, each said pairs having a said plurality of said pins having a different said length;   said different length accommodating said carpet sections having different thicknesses whereby said lengths of said plurality of pins extending from said bottom surfaces of said first and second planar member, may be changed by attaching a different said pair of plates to said first and second planar members.   
   
   
       12 . The carpet seam clamping apparatus of  claim 10  additionally comprising:
 a kit having a plurality of pairs of said plates, each said pairs having a said plurality of said pins having a different said length;   said different length accommodating said carpet sections having different thicknesses whereby said lengths of said plurality of pins extending from said bottom surfaces of said first and second planar member, may be changed by attaching a different said pair of plates to said first and second planar members.   
   
   
       13 . The carpet seam clamping apparatus of  claim 9  additionally comprising:
 a said plurality of pins extending from each of two sides of each said plate;   said plurality of pins on a first of said two sides having a said length longer than a said plurality of pins extending from the other of said two sides of said plate;   a plurality of slots formed in said bottom surface of said first and said second planar members;   said slots having a length at least as long as said plurality of pins on said first side of said plate;   said slots positioned to engage each of said plurality of pins on both sides of said plate; and   whereby said plates may be engaged to said bottom surfaces 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  additionally comprising:
 a said plurality of pins extending from each of two sides of each said plate;   said plurality of pins on a first of said two sides having a said length longer than a said plurality of pins extending from the other of said two sides of said plate;   a plurality of slots formed in said bottom surface of said first and said second planar members;   said slots having a length at least as long as said plurality of pins on said first side of said plate;   said slots positioned to engage each of said plurality of pins on both sides of said plate; and   whereby said plates may be engaged to said bottom surfaces of said planar members on either of said two sides to thereby change said length of said pins extending from said bottom surfaces.