Carpet shim

• US 6,062,517 A
• Filed: 05/05/1998
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph A. Torres, Robert T. Elgin
• Original Assignee: Joseph A. Torres, Robert T. Elgin
• Inventors: Elgin, Robert T., Torres, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAXTER, GWENDOLYN WRENN
• Application Number:
  US09/073,183
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 248/346.01, 248/346.05, 248/346.11, 248/345.1, 248/615, 248/633, 428/131, 428/192, 16/10, 16/16, 16/4, 16/90, 16/17.1, 52/717.03, 52/717.05
• US Class Current: 248/188.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 27/045 Gripper strips; Seaming strips; Edge retainers A47G27/0443 takes precedence

Abstract

A shim for providing a gradual ramp between adjacent flooring materials includes a right angled triangular strip having grooved lines across its width for easy scoring with a knife for height adjustment. Fan-shaped end caps provided for abutment to the triangular strip and having corresponding grooved lines for height adjustment to provide a ramp across a 180° radius.

Claims

1. A carpet shim for providing a gradual ramp between adjacent flooring materials comprising a right angled triangular strip having an inclined surface, said inclined surface having at least one notch traversing the inclined surface for defining a scoring line, wherein said inclined surface includes miter lines drawn at 45°

angles from the scoring line.

2. The carpet shim of claim 1, wherein the inclined surface includes more than one angle of inclination.

3. The carpet shim of claim 1, wherein the triangular strip is made of a material penetrable by nails and resistant to freezing and melting.

4. The carpet shim of claim 1, wherein the triangular strip is made of one of rubber and plastic.

5. A carpet shim for providing a ramp between adjacent flooring materials comprising a right angled fan-shaped strip having an inclined surface wherein said strip has two linear peripheral edges intersecting to form a right angle and an arcuate edge intersecting the linear peripheral edge having a higher end at a corner formed by the right angle and a lower portion at the end arcuate edge of the fan-shaped strip;

and a narrow right angle triangular strip having an inclined surface and two opposing ramped peripheral edges, wherein at least one peripheral edge of the fan-shaped strip abuts to one of the ramped peripheral edges of the narrow right angle triangular strip.

6. The carpet shim of claim 5 further comprising at least one scoring line parallel to one of the linear peripheral edges.

7. The carpet shim of claim 5, wherein the inclined surface of the triangular strip has more than one angle of inclination.

8. The carpet shim of claim 7, wherein the inclined surface of the fan-shaped strip corresponds to the inclined surface of the triangular strip.

9. A unitary carpet shim for providing a gradual ramp between adjacent flooring materials for installing on a subfloor, the flooring materials including a first flooring material having a higher vertical edge than a vertical edge of the second or adjacent flooring material, said shim comprising:

a solid right angled triangular strip having a flat base for positioning on the subfloor and an inclined surface for positioning entirely under the second flooring material, said inclined surface having at least one notch traversing the inclined surface for defining a scoring line wherein the inclined surface has more than one angle of inclination.

10. The carpet shim of claim 9 further comprising a third side for abutting against the vertical edge of the first flooring material.

11. The carpet shim of claim 9 wherein the triangular strip is made of material penetratable by nails and resistant to freezing and melting.

12. The carpet shim of claim 9, wherein the triangular strip is made of one of rubber and plastic.

13. The carpet shim of claim 9, wherein said inclined surface includes at least one meter line drawn at a 45°

angle from the scoring line.