Carpet seam cooling

Abstract

A tool and method for bonding two carpet pieces by use of a vacuum which forces air to move upwardly through the carpet and to cool the hot glue adhesive. The invention goes beyond providing a uniquely strong bond by leveling the carpets on both sides of the bond seam. Thus it also has the ability to bond a thin side of carpet with a thicker side of carpet because of leveling of the carpet on both sides of the bond seam thus hiding the seam more perfectly (many times when a carpet manufacturer shears a carpet one side will be thicker than the other side). Alternately, thin carpets may be bonded without risk of having a weak bond. When several carpets are bonded together with multiple seams, the carpet may be stretched more than conventionally bonded carpets due to the great strength of bonds made in accordance with this invention. All species of the invention enjoy a substantial savings in time needed for seaming.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.