Floor installation tools and methods of use

{
  "publication_number": "US11203878B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Floor installation tools and methods of use",
  "abstract": "Provided herein are exemplary floor installation tools comprising a base having a total length L 2, a receded portion of the base having a length L 1, an impact edge having a vertical height H 3 and forming a right angle with the receded portion of the base, a rounded nose, the rounded nose having an internal angle of approximately sixty degrees, a strike plate forming a sixty degree angle with the rounded corner, the strike plate configured for receiving a force for transfer to the impact edge, and a handle adjacent to the strike plate, the handle mounted in a middle of the base.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A floor installation tool of unitary construction, comprising: a base having a total length L 2, a total width W 1, and a plurality of pull bar slots; a receded portion of the base having a length L 1; a plurality of impact edges, each having a vertical height H 3 and forming an angle with the receded portion of the base, each impact edge of the plurality of impact edges configured to fit flush against a corresponding vertical side of a flooring material and transfer a force to the vertical side of the flooring material, the receded portion of the base configured to fit flush on a top of the flooring material, the plurality of impact edges being approximately evenly separated in distance apart on a bottom of the floor installation tool; wherein L 1 is approximately 3.25 inches, L 2 is approximately 4.00 inches, H 3 is approximately.2165 inches, and W 1 is approximately 4.00 inches; an underlying surface contact area configured to fit flush against an underlying surface being floored; a strike plate forming an angle with a rounded nose, the strike plate configured for receiving a force for transfer to the plurality of impact edges; and a handle having a width W 2, wherein W 2 is approximately.75 inches.",
    "2. The floor installation tool of claim 1, wherein the unitary construction is formed by any of: steel, metal, cast iron, aluminum, hardened plastic, or hardened rubber.",
    "3. The floor installation tool of claim 1, wherein the strike plate is set at a ten degree angle.",
    "4. The floor installation tool of claim 1, wherein each impact edge of the plurality of impact edges forms an approximate 90 degree angle to fit against the flooring material.",
    "5. The floor installation tool of claim 1, wherein the plurality of impact edges transfer force to move the flooring material in a horizontal direction across the underlying surface.",
    "6. The floor installation tool of claim 1, wherein the floor installation tool has a vertical height H 1 of approximately 1.75 inches when placed on top of the flooring material.",
    "7. The floor installation tool of claim 1, wherein approximately.75 inches of the floor installation tool contacts the flooring material during use.",
    "8. The floor installation tool of claim 1, wherein the rounded nose runs continuous to the strike plate.",
    "9. The floor installation tool of claim 1, wherein the handle is defined by laterally adjacent scooped-out areas.",
    "10. The floor installation tool of claim 9, wherein the handle extends from a top side, which is opposite of the strike plate to a horizontal surface that includes the plurality of pull bar slots.",
    "11. The floor installation tool of claim 1, further comprising printed indicia."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The embodiments disclosed herein are related to floor installation tools and methods of use.\n\nProvided herein are exemplary floor installation tools comprising a base having a total length L 2, a receded portion of the base having a length L 1, an impact edge having a vertical height H 3 and forming a right angle with the receded portion of the base, a rounded nose, the rounded nose having an internal angle of approximately sixty degrees, a strike plate forming an approximately sixty degree angle with the rounded nose, the strike plate configured for receiving a force for transfer to the impact edge, and a handle adjacent to the strike plate, the handle mounted in a middle of the base.\n\nOther exemplary embodiments include the floor installation tool having a total width of W 1, the handle having a width of W 2, the base having a plurality of pull bar slots, and the floor installation tool being of unitary construction. Additionally, the unitary construction may be formed by any of: steel, metal, cast iron, aluminum, hardened plastic, or hardened rubber. In some exemplary embodiments, a plastic version of the floor installation tool may weigh between one and two pounds and a metal version of the floor installation tool may weigh between two and six pounds.\n\nThe impact edge, according to many exemplary embodiments, is configured to fit flush against a corresponding vertical side of a flooring material and the impact edge is configured to transfer a force to the vertical side of the flooring material.",
  "cpc": [
    "E04F 21/22",
    "B25B 27/02"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25B 27/02",
    "E04F 21/22"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Six 18 LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Martin O'Connor"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2019-04-25",
  "publication_date": "2021-12-21",
  "grant_date": "2021-12-21",
  "priority_date": "2017-02-14",
  "application_number": "US-201916395115-A",
  "family_id": "63106180",
  "cited_by_count": 2,
  "citations": [
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    "US10287784B2"
  ]
}