US2772474A - Carpet trimmer - Google Patents

Description

H. J. HILL ET AL 2,772,474

CARPET TRIMMER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A I/vws/vToRs: HARVEY (A H/LL (/A CK M PETTY United States Patent CARPET TRIMMER Harvey LHill, Monterey Park, and Jack .W. Petty, Los Angeles, Calif, assignors to Roberts Manufacturing Co., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application May 4, 1953, Serial No. 352,906

:9 Claims. (Cl. 30293) This invention relates to a carpet trimmer and, more particularly, to a carpet trimmer for accurately and easily trimming the edge of a carpet into substantial parallelism with the surface of an adjacent wall in a room or other structure in which the carpet is laid.

It is an object of our invention to provide a carpet trimmer which is designed to be utilized to trim an edge of a carpet after it has been fastened on an invisible fastening strip to provide a clean and accurately cut edge which can be readily disposed in the space between the wall surface and said fastening strip.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a carpet trimmer which includes a base plate disposable on the upper surface of a carpet to be trimmed and which has mounted thereupon a blade holder, said blade holder being both vertically and laterally adjustable with respect to said base in order that carpets of widely different thicknesses may be adequately accommodated t by the carpet trimmer and to permit different amounts of excess to be left on the edge of the carpet to permit said edge to be wedged in the space between a fastening strip and a vertical abutment.

An additional object of our invention is the provision in a carpet trimmer of the aforementioned character of a blade holder which has fixed to a lateral edge thereof guide means for engaging a contiguous wall surface and for accurately guiding the entire carpet trimmer in parallelisrn with said wall surface as an edge of the carpet adjacent said wall surface is trimmed or cut.

An additional object of our invention is the provision of a carpet trimmer of the aforementioned character in which the guide means thereof is designed to engage the contiguous wall surface at a point which is below the upper surface of the carpet and, in addition, is designed to make only line contact with said wall surface to prevent extensive martingthereof during the traverse of the carpet trimmeracross the surface of the carpet whose edges are being trimmed.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a carpet trimmer which incorporates vertical locating or adjustment means which permits the height of the blade holder incorporated in said trimmer to be easily and quickly altered to permit said trimmer to be utilized in making cuts of dilferent heights to obtain different amounts of excess at the edge of-the carpet. Therefore, since the vertical adjustment of the blade holder on the t trimmer can be accomplished with a minimum expenditure of time and energy, the mechanic is readily induced to make such vertical adjustment thereof with the resultant improvement in the characteristicsof the edges trimmed by the utilization of the trimmer constructed in accordance with our invention.

It is an additional object of our invention to provide, in a carpet trimmer of the aforementioned character, lateral 'or horizontal adjustment means which permit the blade holder of the trimmer to be laterally adjusted with respect to the base of said trimmer to permit the carpetkWh lid- Patentetl Dee. i 1195f ice Ms as;

receiving slot and, more particularly, the space between the adjacent lateral edge of the base of the trimmer and the guide means supported on said blade holder to be adjusted into different positions of lateral adjustment to permit the edge of the carpet being cut to be easily fed into the carpet-receiving slot of said trimmer.

Since in constant usage the blades of a carpet trimmer become dull andmust be replaced, we have provided in the carpet trimmer of our invention blade mounting means which facilitate the removal and replacement of carpet cutting blades in the blade holder. Furthermore, we have provided in the blade holder at single retention means for retaining two blades in operative relationship with said blade holder and have provided, furthermore,

oppositely disposed slots communicating with the opposite ends of said blade holder so that an edge of a carpet may be cut in either direction. By the provision of dual blades and dual slots in the blade holder, it is possible to utilize the carpet trimmer in making edge cuts in opposite directions and also facilitate the utilization of the trimmer by both right-handed and left-handed mechanics.

()ther objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig, l is a perspective view showing a carpet trimmer constructed in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, partly sectional view taken from thebroken line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, but showing the blade holder adjusted in a different position of vertical adjustment;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken from the broken line 44 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view taken on the broken line 5--5 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view taken on the broken line 6-6 'of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a partly sectional view takenin the direction of the arrow 7 of Pig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary view taken on the broken line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig, 1 thereof, we show a carpet trimmer Ml constructed in accordance with our invention and constituted generally by a base 12. having a guiding and operating handle 14 secured to the upper surface thereof and a blade holder 16 which is operatively secured to said base for movement therewith in a manner to be described in greater detail below.

The base 12 is of substantially rectangular configuration and is constituted by an elongated, rectangular plate of metal having upturned opposite ends 19 and being designed to be slid in contact with the surface 21 of a carpet 22, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The base 12 is provided adjacent a longitudinal edge thereof with longitudinally spaced dimples 23, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 7 of the drawings, said dimples receiving the heads of upwardly oriented fastening screws 24 which secure the handle 14 in operative engagement with the upper surface of the base 12 and permit said base to be longitudinally shifted in engagement with the surface of the carpet 22 to permit the carpet trimmer ill to be utilized to cut the edge 27 of said carpet, while leaving a predetermined amount of excess on the edge thereof.

It will be noted that, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, th handle 14 is angularly inclined so that both a downward and lateral load may be imposed thereupon in order to urge the base 12 of the trimmer downwardly and laterally to maintain it in optimum contact with the surface of the rug 22. and to additionally maintain the blade holder and, more particularly, a

J guide 23 affixed thereto in optimum engagement with the surface of a Wall 35) adjacent the edge 27 of the carpet being cut. It may be noted at this juncture that the carpet 22 whose edge 27 is shown in Fig. 2 in the process of being cut by the utilization of the trimmer 19 of our invention is disposed upon a carpet pad 33 which is juxtaposed to an invisible fastening strip 34 provided with upwardly directed carpet-engaging fasteners 35. The edge of the fastening strip adjacent the wall 30 is spaced a substantial distance therefrom to define a carpet edge-receiving space 37 into which the edge of the carpet, after the severance of superfluous material therefrom, is inserted.

Supported upon and extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base 12, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 7 of the drawings, are studs 40 Whose lower ends are welded or otherwise securely afiixed thereto. The studs 40 are longitudinally spaced from each other and disposed adjacent the opposite end portions of the base 12. Disposed upon the studs 40 in superimposed relation with one another, are substantially rectangular spacer plates 42 which are, as best shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, provided with coincident openings 43 for the reception of the studs 40 and which, when disposed in cooperative and superimposed relationship with one another, constitute the vertical locating or adjustment means 44 of the carpet trimmer 10 of our invention.

Threadedly engaged upon the upper ends of the studs 40 are knurled nuts 46 which serve to maintain the superimposed spacer plates 42 in operative relationship with one another and with the base 12 of the trimmer 10.

The blade holder 16 of our invention is disposable between any two adjacent spacer plates 42, as best shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, and is constituted, as best shown in Fig. of the drawings, by a substantially rectangular plate member 50 which is provided at its opposite ends with laterally extending arms 51 defining stud-receiving slots 52 which engage the studs 40 extending upwardly from the base 12 and which thus permit the blade holder 16 and, more particularly, the plate 50 constituting the same, to be laterally shifted with respect to the studs 40 and the spacer plates 42 to dispose said plat 50 in any one of a plurality of selected horizontal positions for a purpose which will be described in greater detail below. At this point, it is worth noticing that each of the spacer plates 42 is provided with a laterally extending stabilizing segment 55 of substantially triangular configuration, said laterally extending segments serving to stabilize adjacent spacer plates 42 in relationship to each other and also serving, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, to stabilize the laterally extending portion of the plate 50 constituting the blade holder 16.

The plate 50 has integrally formed with the lateral edge thereof disposable adjacent the wall surfac 30, as best shown in Figs. 1-4 of the drawings, a guide mounting arm 58 which is of elongated, semi-elliptical configuration and which has welded to the outer surface thereof the elongated, semi-elliptical guide 28. As best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the elongated, semielliptical guide 28 and, more particularly, the elongated arm 58 upon which it is secured are disposed at an angle with respect to a vertical axis A-A so that the only line contact is made between the lowermost edge of the guid 28 and an adjacent surface of the wall 30, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In this manner, the possibility of disfigurement of the surface of the wall 30 by the guide 28 is materially reduced and, furthermore, since only the lowermost edge of the guide 28 contacts the surface of the wall 30, any disfigurement will be concealed behind the turned-down edge of the carpet 22. It should be noted that the opposite ends of the guide 28 extend beyond the base 12 to permit said ends to be used to force the excess into the space between the strip and the adjoining vertical abutment by lifting the trimmer 10 at an angle. The end of the base 12 urges the adjoining portion of the carpet inwardly to lock it more securely to the strip during the forcing action.

Oppositely oriented, carpet-receiving slots 60 are, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, defin d between the lateral edge of the plate 50 and the guide mounting arm 58 and the guide 28 itself. Therefore, the edge of a carpet to be cut can be disposed in either of the oppositely oriented slots 60 to permit the edge to be cut in opposite directions, for a purpose and in a manner which will be described in greater detail below.

The blade holder 16 and, more particularly, the plate 50 constituting the same, support a pair of oppositely oriented rug cutting blades 62, as best shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6 of the drawings. The blades 62 are angularly oriented with respect to a line normal to the longitudinal axes of the slots 60 so that the cutting edges 63 thereof exert a shearing action on the edge of a carpet disposed in either of the carpet-receiving slots 60. Each of the blades 62 is provided with a locating notch 65' adapted to receive a downstruck boss 67 provided in the underside of the blade holder 16, said downstruct bosses serving, partially, to orient the blades 65 with respect to the blade holder 16 and thus with respect to the oppositely oriented slots 60. Additional blade locating bosses 69 are provided on the blade holder 16 which serve to accurately position the blades 62 with respect to the blade holder 16 and the carpet-receiving slots 60.

In order to maintain the blades 62 in operative r lation with the blade holder 16, a retainer 72 is provided, said retainer being constituted by an elongated leaf spring 74 which is secured intermediate its ends to the underside of the blade holder 16 and which has its opposite ends overlying the undersides of the blades 62 to maintain them securely in position on the underside of said blade holder. It will be noted that both blades 62 are thus maintained in operative position by the action of the single retainer means 72. However, when it is .necessary to remove either one of the blades 62, the edge thereof can be readily lifted against the bias of the spring 74 to permit it to be disengaged from the corresponding bosses 69 and withdrawn from its position on the holder 16. Subsequently, a new blade can be readily inserted in position by inserting the rear edge thereof under the leaf spring 74 and pushing the blade into position abutting the bosses 67 and 69.

The outermost ends of the blades 62 engage the upper surfaces of instruck blade supporting pads 76 provided on the inner side of the guide 28, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, and also underlie the edge 77 of the elongated mounting arm 58 overlying the upper surfaces of said pads. Therefore, the pads 76 and the adjacent edge 77 of the mounting arm 58 provide retainer means for the outer ends of the blades 62 to prevent inadvertent upward or downward deflection of the blades and, furthermore, to prevent the carpet from being caught between the end of the blade and the guide 28. It will be noted that the structure of the blade holder and, more particularly, the retainer means 72 and the locating bosses 67 and 69 thereupon serves both to accurately orient the blades 62 with respect to the carpet-receiving slots 60 and maintain the major portions of the upper surfaces of the blades 62 in close contiguity to the underside of the blade holder 16, thus materially stabilizing the blades and preventing the inadvertent dislodgment of the blades from engagement with the blade holder 16.

Provided on the underside of the blade holder 16 are adjusting means 80 constituted by depending dimples 81 which serve as detents in a manner which will be described in greater detail below. It will be noted that in Fig. 5 of the drawings the dimples 81 at the outer ends of the plate 50 are located in the arms 51 and are arranged so that their centers lie on essentially the same longitudinal axis, while the intermediate dimple 81 is displaced laterally with relationship to the outermost dimples 81 for a purpose which will be described in greater detail below. 3

Disposed in operative relationship with the blade holder 16 and therebelow is a locking and locating plate 82, best shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and designed to be utilized in conjunction with the blade holder 16 in a manner which will be described in greater detail below. The locking and locating plate 82 is of substantially rectangular configuration and is provided at its opposite ends with upturned finger grip portions 83 which, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings, project beyond the ends of the spacer plates 42 and the blade holder 16 to permit the locking and locating plate 82 to be grasped at its opposite ends between the thumb and finger and raised to permit said plate to be shifted laterally with respect to the superimposed spacer plates 42, in a manner which will be described in greater detail below.

The locking and locating plate 82 is provided with slots 85 in its opposite end portions, as best shown in Fig. 6, which engage the studs 40 and the open ends of which are oriented in the same direction as the open ends of the slots 52 in the blade holder 16. Therefore, it is obvious that the locking and locating plate 82 can be laterally shifted with respect to the studs 40 and is nevertheless retained against longitudinal movement with respect to the base 12 by means of said studs. A plurality of elongated clearance openings 87 is provided in the locking and locat ing plate 82 to clear the locating bosses 69 on the blade holder 16, thereby insuring that close surface contact between the upper surface of the locking and locating plate 82 and the under surface of the blade holder 16 will be maintained to prevent relative cocking movement therebetween.

The locking and locating plate 82 is also provided with three groups of detent openings 89, the outermost two of the groups of detent openings 89 being arranged symmetrically about a common longitudinal axis, while the intermediate one of said groups is displaced laterally with respect to the outermost two groups in a manner analogous to that in which the intermediate adjusting means 80 constituted by the dimples 81 is spaced laterally with respect to the outermost dimples 81 in the blade holder 16. The detent openings $9 in the locking and locating plate 32 are adapted to receive the dimples 81 in the blade holder 16 and therefore permit the blade holder 16 to be located in any one of a plurality of horizontal positions with respect to the locking and locating plate 82. The significance of the lateral displacement of the intermediate dimple 81 and the intermediate group of detent openings 89 in the blade holder 16 and the locking plate 82, respectively, becomes apparent when it is considered that if all of the dimples tit and all of the groups of detent openings 89 were arranged on the same longitudinal axis, it would be possible to mislocate the blade holder 16 with respect to the locking and locating plate 82 by placing one of the outermost dimples 81 in the blade holder 16 in an outermost detent opening 89 misaligned with respect to the other outermost detent opening 89 in which the otheroutermost dimple 81 had been located. However, the provision of the laterally placed dimple 81 and detent openings 39 prevents such mislocation since when such mislocation inadvertently occurs, the intermediate dimple 81 will not register with any one of the intermediate detent openings and, therefore, the outermost dimples 81 and detent openings 89 must be longitudinally aligned in order to register the intermediate dimple S1 with the intermediate detent opening 8).

It is, therefore, readily apparent that by the provision of the cooperative detent dimples 81 in the blade holder 16 and the provision of the spaced groups of detent openings 82 in the locking and locating plate 82, it is possible to locate the blade holder 16 in any one of a plurality of horizontal positions with respect to the superimposed spacer plates 42, for a purpose which will be described in greater detail below.

A plurality of retention lugs 91 is provided on the underside of the locking'and locating plate 82, as best shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, said lugs being located in longitudinally spaced pairs and the distance between in, dividual lugs of a pair being equivalent to the width of a spacer plate 42 disposed beneath thelocking and locating plate 82 and, as a matter of fact, any one of the spacer plates 42. Therefore, the inner edges of the lugs 91 engage the lateral edges of the spacer plates 42 and prevent the locking and locating plate 82 from being inadvertently discharged or dislocated in a lateral direction from between any two of the spacer plates 42. In this manner, the locking and locating plate 82 is engaged with a spacer plate 42 disposed therebeneath so that relative lateral movement between the blade-holder 16 and the locking and locating plate 82 will not result in inad vertent dislodgment of the locking and locating plate 82 with respect to the spacer 42 disposed therebeneath.

The relationship between the carpet-receiving slots 60 in the blade holder 16 and the lateral edge 93 of the locating and locking plate 82 is graphically depicted in Fig. 6 of the drawings wherein it is shown how the edge93 of the plate 82 overlaps the inner edge of each of the slots 60. Therefore, the edge 93 of the plate 82 serves to limit the over-all effective width of the slots by its cooperation with the inner surfaces of the elongated mounting arm 58 and the elongated guide 28. It is apparent, therefore, that relative movement between the elongated mounting arm 558 and its associated guide 28 and the inner edge 93 of the locking and locating plate 82 determines the effective width of the carpet-receiving slot 60 and that relative adjustment between the blade holder 16 and the locking and locating plate 82 serves to move the: guide 28 and its associated mounting arm 58 toward or away from the edge 93 of the plate 82 to narrow or widen the carpetreceiving slots 60. The inner edge of the base 12 is directly below the edge 93 of the plate 82 to maintain the edge being trimmed substantially vertical.

In order to facilitate the location of the blade holder 16 and its associated locking and locating plate 82, one of the spacer plates 42 is provided with a different surface treatment, as indicated at 96in Fig. 8 of the draw ings, and is located intermediate the other spacer plates 42 to serve as an indicator whereby the optimum location of the blade holder 16 may be visually determined. Therefore, if it is desired to set the blade holder high in order to obtain a greater excess at the edge of the carpet 22, the blade holder 16 is located above the plate 96 while, if it is desired to set the blade holder'16 low to provide a smaller excess at the edge 27 of the carpet 22, the holder 16 is set below the indicator plate 96.

The operation of the carpet trimmer 10 of our invention is as follows: In order to locate the blade holder 16 and its associated locating and locking plate 82 in a proper vertical location with respect to the base 12 thereof, the nuts 46 are loosened to permit relative movement between the superimposed spacer plates 42 and the locking and locating plate 82 is located between any two of the spacer plates. As previously indicated, the height of the blade holder 16 above the base 12 determines the amou'ntof excess which will be permitted on the edge 27 of the carpet 22 being cut and the spacer plates 42 thus serve as means for vertically locating the blade holder 16 and its associated locking and locating plate 82. In making the proper selection of the height at which the blade holder 16 and the locking and locating plate 82 are to be disposed, the indicator plate 96 comes into play since, if a minimum excess is to be obtained at the edge 27 of the carpet 22, the locking and locating plate 82 and the blade holder 16 are disposed between any two of the spacerplates '42 below the indicator plate 96, while if a greater excess is desired, the plate 82 and the blade holder 16 are disposed above said indicator plate.

After the locking and locating plate 82 has been lo cated between any two selected spacer plates 42, the blade holder 16 is inserted above the locking and locating plate 82 but below the adjacent spacer plate 42, as best shown in Figs. 1-3 of the drawings. If the carpet is a relatively thick carpet, the adjusting dimples 81 on the blade holder 16 are located in the first row of detent openings 89, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, to maintain the blade holder in a position wherein the mounting bar 58 and the guide 28 are located the maximum distance from the edge 93 of the locking and locating plate 82 to provide carpet-receiving slots 60 of maximum width. On the other hand, if the carpet to be cut is only of moderate thickness, the dimples 81 are located in the intermediate row of detents 89, as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, to locate the edge 93 of the plate 82 a moderate or intermediate distance from the bar 58 and the guide 28. Therefore, the guide 28 and its associated locking bar 58 together with the edge 93 of the plate 82 determine the width of the carpet-receiving slots 60 and thus permit the width of said slots to be adjusted by the cooperation between the adjusting dimples 81 and the detent openings 89 in the blade holder 16 and the locking and locating plate 82, respectively.

The manner in which the locking and locating plate and the blade holder 16 may be adjusted in a relatively high vertical position with respect to the base 12 and above the indicator plate 96 is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings and in this position a large excess will be permitted to remain on the edge 27 of the carpet 22 being cut. On the other hand, in Fig. 3 of the drawings the locking and locating plate 82 and its associated blade holder 16 are disclosed as disposed below the indicator plate 96 in a position in which a relatively small amount of excess will be permitted to remain on the edge 27 of the carpet 22. Of course, the amount of excess that is permitted to remain on the edge of a carpet being cut is determined by a variety of factors such as the thickness of the carpet and the width of the space 37 between the lateral edge of the invisible fastening strips 34 and the surface of the wall 30.

It is quite clear, therefore, that the superimposed spacer plates 42 serve as a means for vertically locating the blade holder 16 and its associated locking and locating plate 82 in any one of a plurality of vertical positions, while the relationship between the adjusting dimples 81 and the detent openings 89 in the blade holder 16 and the locking and locating plate 82, respectively, provides means for locating the blade holder and, more particularly, the guide 28 provided on the lateral edge thereof, in any one of a plurality of selected horizontal positions. By the provision of such means, extreme flexibility of opera tion is obtained since it is possible both to select the desired excess on the edge of a carpet being cut and, furthermore, to accommodate the trimmer to be utilized with carpets of different thicknesses. Due to the fact that the width of the carpet-receiving slots can be easily and readily adjusted without the dismounting of the blade holder 16 from engagement with the superimposed spacer plate 42 and its associated locking and locating plate 82, the width of the slots 60 can be easily altered to permit the mechanic utilizing the trimmer to adjust the trimmer to accommodate various thicknesses of carpet.

It will be noted that, in order to accomplish the aforementioned adjustment of the width of the slots 60 after the blade holder 16 and its associated locking and locating plate 82 have been installed in a predetermined vertical relationship with respect to the base 12, it is only necessary to release the nuts 46 so that the adjusting dimples 81 may be released from engagement with the detent openings 89 in which they are located and be moved into registry with other detent openings 89 in order that the width of the carpet-receiving slots 60 may be altered.

When it is desired to trim the edge 27 of a carpet 22, the carpet trimmer 10 is positioned with the guide 28 adjacent the surface of the adjacent wall 30 and the trimmer 10 is then moved downwardly at an angle 'to make an oblique cut in the edge 27 until the under surface of the base 12 engages the upper surface 21 of the carpet 22. This initial operation takes place some distance from the Wall which is disposed at right angles to the wall 30 because of the difficulty in inserting the trimmer in close juxtaposition to the other wall. However, once the initial out has been made, the direction of the trimmer 10 can be reversed and a out can be made at the opposite end of the trimmer in a reverse direction to take care of that portion of the carpet which cannot be accommodated by moving the trimmer 10 in a forward direction. This is a considerable advance over prior art trimmers and is possible only because of the provision of the oppositely oriented carpetreceiving slots and the associated blades 62.

As the carpet trimmer 10 moves along the upper surface 21 of the carpet 22, it will be noted that the lowermost edge of the guide 28 engages the surface of the wall 30 thus eliminating substantial frictional resistance to the forward traverse of the trimmer and also eliminating the possibility of considerable disfigurement or marring of the surface of the wall against which the guide 28 is engaged. During the traverse of the trimmer 10, it will be noted that the angular orientation of the handle 14 permits the base 12 to be easily and readily urged into uniform contact with the surface 21 of the carpet 22 and, furthermore, permits the guide 28 to be urged into even engagement with the surface of the wall 30 thus insuring that an even, accurate cut will be made in the edge 27 of the carpet 22 being trimmed.

Another advantage of the trimmer of our invention is the fact that if it is desired to remove the blade holder 16 for any purpose whatsoever, such as the replacement of the blades 62 the locating plate 82 can remain in opera tive relationship with the spacer plates 42. After the desired operation upon the blade holder 16 has been accomplished, the blade holder 16 can readily be reinserted into position on the upper surface of the locking and locating plate 82. Furthermore, if it is necessary to remove either or both of the blades 62, the operation can be accomplished in a minimum amount of time.

We thus provide by our invention a carpet trimmer which is characterized by extreme flexibility of operation in that provision is made for accommodating carpets of various thicknesses and for varying the amount of excess left on the edge of a carpet being trimmed. In addition, simple means for adjusting both the vertical position of the blade holder of the trimmer of our invention and for adjusting the horizontal position thereof are provided, thus permitting such adjustments to be made easily and in a minimum amount of time.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a device for cutting a carpet laid on the floor of a room, the combination of: a base engageable with the upper surface of the carpet and movable therealong in a first horizontal direction; carpet cutting means including a blade holder and a blade carried thereby; a locating member for said blade holder; vertical adjustment means for rigidly supporting said blade holder and said locating member on said base in any one of a plurality of vertical positions relative to said base; and horizontal adjustment means for rigidly supporting said blade holder in any one of a series of horizontal positions relative to said base extending in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to said first horizontal direction, including interengageable detent means on said blade holder and said locating member.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said vertical adjustment means includes a vertical stack of spacers mounted on said base and between any two of which said blade holder and said locating member are insertable.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said vertical adjustment means includes a vertical stack of spacers mounted on said base and between any two of which said blade holder and said locating member are insertable, said locating member having means thereon engageable with one of said spacers for locking said locating member against movement in said second horizontal direction.

4. In a carpet trimmer, the combination of: a base; a plurality of superimposed spacer plates secured to said base; and a blade holding plate insertable between any two of said spacer plates, said blade holding plate having carpet-receiving slots extending from the opposite ends thereof and having blade means extending across said slots for trimming the edge of a carpet inserted therein.

5. In a carpet trimmer, the combination of: a base; a plurality of superimposed spacer plates secured to said base; and a blade holding plate insertable between any two of said spacer plates, said blade holding plate having a carpet-receiving slot extending from an end thereof and mounting a blade extending across said slot for trimming the edge of a carpet inserted therein.

6. In a carpet trimmer, the combination of: a base; a plurality of superimposed spacer plates secured to said base; and a blade holding plate insertable between any two of said spacer plates, said blade holding plate having carpet-receiving slots extending from the opposite ends thereof and having fastener means thereupon for securing blade means thereto across said slots with their cutting edges oppositely disposed to cut the edge of a carpet inserted therein.

7. In a carpet trimmer, the combination of: a base; a plurality of spacer plates secured to said base; a blade holding plate having a first portion insertable between any two of said spacer plates, said blade holding plate having a second portion spaced laterally from said spacer plates when said first portion is inserted between two of said spacer plates; and a blade carried by said second portion of said blade holding plate.

8. In a carpet trimmer, the combination of: a base; stud means on said base; superimposed spacer plates secured to said stud means; a blade holder having a first portion interposable between any two of said spacer plates, said blade holder having a second portion spaced laterally from said spacer plates when said first portion is inserted between two of said spacer plates; and a blade carried by said second portion of said blade holder.

9. In a carpet trimmer, the combination of: a base; stud means on said base; superimposed spacer plates secured to said stud means; a blade holder interposable between any two of said spacer plates; guide means secured to an edge of said blade holder, the ends of said guide means defining, in conjunction with said edge of said blade holder, and at opposite ends thereof, oppositely oriented, carpet-receiving slots; and blades carried by said blade holder and extending across said slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,255,860 Courter Feb. 12, 1918 2,007,396 Howard July 9, 1935 2,310,838 Helprin Feb. 9, 1943 2,411,927 Luke Dec. 3, 1946 2,601,183 Unsinger June 17, 1952 2,607,115 Iovinelli Aug. 19, 1952 2,648,905 Hinsche Aug. 18, 1953 2,666,986 Codianne Jan. 26, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 283,458 Great Britain Jan. 12, 1928

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