Back to results
US 12,000,160 B1Granted
Multi-functional tapping block assembly
OwnerKraig D. Nichols, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-functional tapping block assembly for installing flooring planks having the combined functionalities of a conventional tapping block, a clamp, a measuring tape, an expansion gap spacer, a speed square, an alignment aid, and a line marking utensil.
Claims19
A multi-functional flooring installation tapping block assembly, comprising:
- (a) a laterally-extending solid monolithic tapping block body having a geometry defined by:
- a solid, rectangular base portion having a top side, an opposite bottom side, a rear end, an opposite front end, a left/distal end and an opposite right/proximal end, wherein both the top and bottom sides of the solid, rectangular base portion are planar and parallel to each other;
- a raised linear feature extending upwardly from the top side of the base portion adjacent to the rear end thereof, the raised linear feature extending from the left/distal end to the right/proximal end of the tapping block body, the raised linear feature having a top side adjoined to the top side of the base portion via a vertical shoulder, the top side of the raised linear feature having length measurement markings disposed therealong;
- the front end of the base portion having a longitudinally oriented floor plank receiving slot therein proximate to the left/distal end of the base portion, the floor plank receiving slot defining a pair of spaced-apart proximal and distal prongs on laterally opposite sides thereof, the proximal prong having a lateral threaded opening extending completely therethrough;
- and
- (b) a threaded fastener sized and configured for threading engagement with the lateral threaded opening extending through the proximal prong,
- wherein, during use of the tapping block assembly to remove an excess portion of a flooring plank, the excess portion of the flooring plank may be partially inserted into the flooring plank receiving slot in the base portion of the tapping block body, and subsequently clamped between an interior surface of the flooring plank receiving slot and a distal end of the threaded fastener, to thereby enable the excess portion of the flooring plank to be detached by rotating the tapping block body along a plane perpendicular to a score line in an upper surface of the flooring plank.
4 more elements
A multi-functional flooring installation tapping block assembly, comprising:
- (a) a laterally-extending solid monolithic tapping block body having a geometry defined by:
- a solid, rectangular base portion having a top side, an opposite bottom side, a rearward end, an opposite forward end, a left/distal end and an opposite right/proximal end, wherein both the top and bottom sides of the solid, rectangular base portion are planar and parallel to each other;
- a raised linear slide rail feature protruding upwardly from the top side of the base portion adjacent to the rearward end thereof, the raised linear slide rail feature extending from the left/distal end to the right/proximal end of the tapping block body, the raised linear slide rail feature having a top side, an inwardly tapered rear side, and an opposite inwardly tapered front side, the top side of the raised linear slide rail feature having recessed measurement hash marks therein;
- a laterally extending shoulder adjoining the rearward end of the base portion of the tapping block body and the inwardly tapered rear side of the raised linear slide rail feature;
- the front end of the base portion having a longitudinally oriented floor plank receiving slot therein proximate to the left/distal end of the base portion, the floor plank receiving slot defining a pair of spaced-apart proximal and distal prongs on laterally opposite sides thereof, the proximal prong having a lateral threaded opening extending completely therethrough;
- and
- (b) a threaded fastener sized and configured for threading engagement with the lateral threaded opening extending through the proximal prong,
- wherein, during use of the tapping block assembly to remove an excess portion of a flooring plank, the excess portion of the flooring plank may be partially inserted into the flooring plank receiving slot in the base portion of the tapping block body, and subsequently clamped between an interior surface of the flooring plank receiving slot and a distal end of the threaded fastener, to thereby enable the excess portion of the flooring plank to be detached by rotating the tapping block body in a rotational direction perpendicular to a score line in an upper surface of the flooring plank.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.