Tool for floor sheet installation

Abstract

To provide a tool for floor sheet installation that enables groove cutting and trimming of floor sheets with one tool.SOLUTION: A tool 100 for floor sheet installation includes a main body having a front portion 102 facing the floor sheet, a middle portion 103, a rear portion 104, and a gripping portion 101 extending upward from the rear portion 104 and connected to the front portion 102, a first groove cutting blade that is detachably fixed to the main body and protrudes further toward the floor sheet than the front portion 102 to cut a groove in the seam of the floor sheet, a flat guide plate 108 that is disposed at the tip of the tool 100 and guides the tool 100 along the seam, and a first blade 115 that is movably fixed to the rear portion 104 and is used for trimming a welding rod welded to the groove.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to floor sheet installation techniques, and more particularly to tools for installing seams in floor sheets. [Background technology]

[0002] Building floors are formed by attaching floor sheets such as linoleum or vinyl sheets to a slab of wood, mortar, or concrete using adhesives. Floors generally have a large surface area. For this reason, when attaching long or large floor sheets to the floor slab, the floor sheets are cut into pieces of size that fit the floor, and the cut floor sheets are then attached to the floor. This creates gaps between adjacent floor sheets. If the gaps between floor sheets are left as they are, problems such as debris accumulating in the gaps and, in some cases, footwear getting caught in the gaps can occur. For this reason, grooves are cut into the gaps between the floor sheets, and welding rods are welded along the created grooves.

[0003] Welding rods are generally in the form of round rods or flexible strings that are thicker than the width of the groove. As a result, the welding rod above the part that fits into the groove protrudes from the floor sheet. If the welding rod is left protruding from the floor sheet, it can also cause problems such as collecting dirt or catching footwear on it. For this reason, the protruding part of the welding rod must be flattened after welding.

[0004] Tools for cutting grooves in gaps between floor sheets have been known for some time. For example, Japanese Patent No. 5495463 (Patent Document 1) describes a tool for cutting long grooves, both straight and curved. This tool includes a groove cutting blade for cutting grooves in the joints, a main body to which the groove cutting blade is fixed and which the user can grip and operate, and a second groove cutting blade at the rear of the main body for cutting grooves in the floor sheets. The tool also includes a guide plate at the front tip, which surrounds and protects the groove cutting blade. The guide plate formed at the front also functions to guide the tool along the joints.

[0005] As described above, a welding rod is welded to the groove formed by Patent Document 1, and then the protruding welding rod is scraped off with a cutter to flatten the groove. The cutter used in this process is described, for example, in US2010 / 0266359 (Patent Document 2). The cutter described in Patent Document 2 is a tool that is prepared separately from the groove cutting tool. Therefore, the user needs to prepare both the groove cutting tool and the cutter for trimming to perform the groove cutting process. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5495463 specification [Patent Document 2] US2010 / 0266359 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The present invention was completed in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional technology, and its object is to provide a tool for floor sheet installation that enables groove cutting and trimming of floor sheets with a single tool. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to the present invention, there is provided a tool for installing floor sheets, the tool comprising: a main body portion including a front portion facing the floor sheet, a middle portion, a rear portion, and a grip portion extending upward from the rear portion and connecting to the front portion; a first groove cutting blade that is detachably fixed to the main body portion and protrudes toward the floor sheet from the front portion to cut a groove at a seam of the floor sheet; a flat guide plate disposed at a tip of the tool for guiding the tool along the seam; a first blade movably fixed to the rear portion for trimming the welding rod welded in the groove; A tool is provided comprising:

[0009] The front portion may have an opening through which the first groove cutting blade extends to the floor sheet, and the guide plate may be fixed to a tip of the front portion.

[0010] A front plate having an opening through which the first groove cutting blade extends to the floor sheet may be removably fixed to the front portion, and the guide plate may be fixed to a tip of the front plate.

[0011] A spacer may be provided, secured to the floor sheet side of the first blade, and having a second slot.

[0012] The first blade may have a straight edge extending across the groove on the floor sheet side, or a notched edge formed at the center of the tip of the first blade.

[0013] The first blade may have a curved portion on the floor sheet side that curves toward the opposite side of the floor sheet, and may have a notched blade formed in the center of the curved portion.

[0014] A second blade may be provided that is received in a stop-end slot formed in the main body, extends at an angle relative to the floor sheet, and has an aperture for securing the second blade to the main body.

[0015] A second groove cutting blade may be provided extending from the gripping portion through the rear portion to the floor sheet.

[0016] A second groove cutting blade may be provided extending from the gripping portion through the rear portion to the floor sheet.

[0017] The second groove cutting blade can cut a groove along the wall that was left uncut by the first groove cutting blade, or can cut a deeper second groove within the first groove formed by the first groove cutting blade. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, a floor construction tool can be provided that can improve the efficiency of floor sheet joint construction, including groove cutting and post-weld processing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a right side view of a tool 100 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the tool 100 of this embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a top view of the tool 100 of this embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the tool 100. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a front view of the tool 100 of this embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the tool 100 of this embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a tool 100-1 according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the structure of the rear end portion of the first blade 115-1 in the tool 110-1. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the first groove cutting blade 118 and the second groove cutting blade 111 of this embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the second blade 114, the first blades 115, 115-1, and the spacer 120 used in this embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the first blade 115-2. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a front view (FIG. 12(a)) and a side view (FIG. 12(b)) of the first blade 115-2 of this embodiment. [Figure 13]Figure 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating the process of cutting a groove in a floor sheet 200 using the tool 100 of this embodiment, then welding a welding rod 202, and similarly flattening the welded portion using the tool 100 of this embodiment (trimming cut). [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a second trimming operation in this embodiment, in which the welding rod 202 is flattened to the surface level of the floor sheet 200. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of a construction method in which trimming cuts are performed using the tool 100-1 of the second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of groove cutting by the tool 100 of this embodiment, viewed from directly above. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the welding procedure of this embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the process of installing a floor sheet 200 using the tool 100 of this embodiment, step by step. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a tool according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0020] 11: First Blade 100: Tools 100-1: Tools 101: Grip part 101a: End-stop slot 102: Front 103: Middle section 104: Rear 105: Front plate 107: Rear plate 108: Guide plate 108a: Inclined surface 109: Opening 110: Fixing screw 110-1: Tools 110a: Fixed part 111: Second groove cutting blade 112: Stop screw hole 113a: Side guide roller 113b: Side guide roller 114: Second Blade 114a:Protrusion 114b: Connection part 114c: Extension 114d: Aperture 114e :blade 115: First blade (first embodiment) 115-1: First blade (second embodiment) 115-2: First blade (third embodiment) 116: Fixing screw 117a: recess 117b: recess 118: First groove cutting blade 119: Sleeve 120: Spacer 121: Set screw 122: Set screw 123: Slot 124: Stabilizing member 200: Floor sheet 201: Groove 202: Welding rod 202a: Chips 202b :Remainder 203: Seam DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The present invention will be described below using exemplary embodiments, but is not limited to the described exemplary embodiments. The term "trimming" in this specification refers to the process of flattening a welding rod welded to a joint formed between floor sheets to approximately the same level as the surface of the floor sheets. However, flattening does not mean that the floor sheets and the welding material are completely flush with each other after trimming. In the case of unevenness in the floor sheets, flattening the welding material to approximately the same level as the top surface of the convex portions. In this embodiment, the material used to weld the grooves is referred to as a welding rod, but its rigidity and shape are not particularly limited as long as it is a thermoplastic material used in floor sheet construction.

[0022] In this embodiment, the term "trimming cut" refers to the process of cutting off any welding rod that protrudes above the floor sheet. Furthermore, in this embodiment, "double cut" refers to a trimming process in which, if any welding rod still protrudes from the floor sheet after trimming, the protruding portion is cut back to the level of the floor sheet. While trimming cuts must be performed regardless of the properties of the floor sheet, double cuts are preferably applied to construction that requires a flat floor sheet to prevent the accumulation of debris, rather than non-slip or uneven floor sheets.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a right side view of a tool 100 according to this embodiment. The tool 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a main body made of metal, for example, an aluminum casting having a certain level of strength and rigidity. The main body has multiple sections, which, in a counterclockwise direction on the page, are a gripping section 101, a rear section 104 that contacts the floor sheet, a middle section 103, and a front section 102 that contacts the floor sheet.

[0024] The rear portion 104 and the front portion 102 come into contact with the floor sheet, but the middle portion 103 is recessed slightly upward when viewed from the floor sheet so that it does not come into contact with the floor sheet. The front portion 102, the middle portion 103, and the rear portion 104 are continuous in the longitudinal direction and form the bottom of the main body. The middle portion 103 is recessed to reduce the area that comes into contact with the floor sheet, thereby lowering resistance and minimizing the impact of unevenness in the floor sheet.

[0025] A front plate 105 is disposed at the tip of the front portion 102, and a plate-shaped guide plate 108 is welded or screwed to the center of the tip of the front plate 105. The guide plate 108 fits into the seam of the floor sheet and serves to determine the direction of travel of the tool 100. The tip portion shown in FIG. 1 is formed as the front plate 105 that protrudes from the tip of the main body, and the front plate 105 is screwed to the bottom of the front portion of the main body.

[0026] The tool 100 will now be described counterclockwise using Figure 1. The tool 100 has a fixed portion 110a for a first groove cutting blade (not shown) that extends from the front and is raised high. A fixing screw 110 is threaded into the fixed portion 110a. The fixing screw 110 fixes the first groove cutting blade (not shown) at its tip in a position where it can cut a groove in the floor sheet. The tip of the groove cutting blade extends through an opening 109 in the front plate 105 to the floor sheet, enabling groove cutting work.

[0027] Continuing counterclockwise, the fixing portion 110a tapers downward toward the grip portion 101 at the top and continues to the grip portion 101. The grip portion 101 has an upwardly convex shape and continues to the bottom at the rear of the tool 100. There is a gap between the bottom of the main body and the grip portion 101 that is large enough to allow a user to easily grip the grip portion 101. A second groove cutting blade 111, which has a smaller diameter than the first groove cutting blade (not shown), protrudes from the rear of the main body to the inside of the grip portion 101. The second groove cutting blade 111 is fixed to the main body with a hexagon socket head screw that threads into a blind screw hole 112. When not in use, the tip of the second groove cutting blade 111 is housed in a through hole formed in the main body, with its tip inclined toward the rear. When in use, the second groove cutting blade 111 is screwed in with its tip blade protruding from the rear part 104, and grooves are cut into the floor sheet.

[0028] The second groove cutting blade 111 located at the rear can be used to groove the remaining part near the wall, or to form a second groove that is deeper or narrower than an existing groove that includes a long straight or curved line.

[0029] The schematic configuration of the main body described above is the same as that of the groove cutting tool 100 described in Patent Document 1. The novel configuration of the tool of this embodiment will now be described. A stop-end slot 101a is formed on the underside of the gripping portion 101 of the tool 100 in FIG. 1, extending obliquely from the rear portion 104 to the vicinity of a recessed portion 117a formed from the middle portion 103 to the front portion 102. Note that recessed portion 117a, together with a similarly shaped recessed portion 117b formed on the opposite side of the page, are formed as receiving portions for the user to apply force to the tip of the tool 100 with the thumb, index finger, etc.

[0030] The rear side of the stop-end slot 101a in the drawing also stops at the end, and the main body on the opposite side of the drawing maintains the strength of the entire main body. A second blade 114 is housed inside the stop-end slot 101a, and is used to trim and cut the welding rod that has been welded after grooving. A fixing screw 116 for fixing the second blade 114 is located in the open space below the gripping part 101. The tip of the fixing screw 116 fits into an aperture 114d formed at an appropriate position on the second blade 114, and the tip is pressed against the floor surface of the stop-end slot to fix the second blade 114.

[0031] The position at which second blade 114 is fixed may be a position at which the rear tip of second blade 114 can contact the floor sheet when fixed, and there are no particular limitations on the protruding length. In Fig. 1, second blade 114 is shown housed in a stop-end slot, in a position when not in use.

[0032] Furthermore, a pair of side guide rollers 113a, 113b are attached to the bottom below the stop slot 101a via roller shafts (not shown) extending perpendicular to the paper surface. The side guide rollers 113a, 113b provide stability to the tool 100 against tilting in the lateral direction. Also, a first blade 115 for trimming and cutting the floor sheet is arranged on the floor sheet side of the bottom, between the rear part 104 of the main body and the middle part 103 of the main body, at a position that contacts the bottom surface of the main body.

[0033] First blade 115 is exposed from rear plate 107 at a position corresponding to intermediate portion 103, and is movably fixed at a position corresponding to rear portion 104 by a setscrew (not shown) via rear plate 107 arranged on rear portion 104. A spacer (not shown) is arranged on the rear plate 107 side, and is movably fixed by a setscrew via rear plate 107.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a left side view of the tool 100 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the stop slot 101a does not extend to the left side of the main body, providing rigidity to the tool 100. Also shown in FIG. 2 is the spacer 120 retracted into the middle section 103 and not protruding from the rear of the main body. The first blade 115 is located above the spacer 120. The spacer 120 provides a smooth trimming function for floor sheets with unevenness, such as those formed for anti-slip purposes. The spacer 120 is also used to keep the welding rod on the floor sheet during a double cut to flatten the seams of flat floor sheets, such as linoleum. This is because the temperature of the welding rod, which is made of plastic material, is high immediately after welding. If the seam is flattened in this state, subsequent shrinkage will cause the seam to become concave, making flattening impossible. For this reason, it is necessary to secure a gap between the first blade 115 and the floor sheet so that the welding rod remains on the floor sheet to some extent immediately after welding of the welding rod.

[0035] When first blade 115 trims off the protruding portion of the welding rod, first blade 115 and, if necessary, spacer 120 protrude from near the rear bottom surface of the main body to trim off the welding rod.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the tool 100 of this embodiment. In the top view of FIG. 3, the left side of the main body corresponds to the grip portion 101, and the portion in front of it corresponds to the groove cutting function portion 130, which includes the fixing portion 110a of the first groove cutting blade 118 and the front plate 105. The first groove cutting blade 118 is housed in a slot in the fixing portion 110a formed near the center of the groove cutting function portion 130 of the main body and is fixed by a fixing screw 110. A U-shaped blade is formed at the tip of the first groove cutting blade 118, and this blade cuts into the seam of the floor sheet to cut the groove. The floor sheet grooved by the first groove cutting blade 118 is discharged from the groove cutting function portion 130 of the tool 100 to the left side of the drawing, spreading out as chips to the left and right, ensuring visibility during groove cutting work.

[0037] Fig. 4 shows a bottom view of the tool 100. Fig. 4 shows the configuration of the first blade 115, spacer 120, and second groove cutting blade 111 arranged at the bottom of the tool 100. First, the configuration from the rear plate 107 of the rear part 104 to the middle part 103 of the tool 100 will be described.

[0038] In this embodiment, a rear plate 107 is attached to the rear portion 104 of the tool 100, and the rear plate 107 is screwed to the bottom of the main body with a set screw 122. A first blade 115 and a spacer 120 are sandwiched between the rear plate 107 and the bottom of the main body, and the set screw 122 is screwed to the main body through a slot formed at a position common to the first blade 115 and the spacer 120. The rear plate 107, the bottom of the main body, and the set screw 122 secure the first blade 115 and the spacer 120 while allowing their longitudinal extension positions to be adjusted.

[0039] A U-shaped notch 125a is formed at the rear end of the rear plate 107, and the second groove cutting blade 111 extends through this notch 125a to the floor sheet, enabling it to cut a groove. The amount of penetration of the second groove cutting blade 111 into the floor sheet can be set by adjusting a hexagon socket head screw depending on the required construction. A roller shaft (not shown) is inserted into the lower body of the gripping part 101 of the tool 100, and side guide rollers 113a, 113b are screwed to both ends of the roller shaft. The roller shaft also passes through an opening formed in the center of the stabilizing member 124, rotatably holding the stabilizing member 124.

[0040] Meanwhile, an elongated hole 123 having a diameter shorter than that of the stabilizing member 124 is formed in the portion of the rear plate 107 corresponding to the stabilizing member 124, and the arc-shaped outer periphery of the stabilizing member 124 protrudes from the elongated hole 123. The stabilizing member 124 fits into the groove formed by the first groove cutting blade 118, improving the linear stability of the tool 100.

[0041] Intermediate section 103 has a bottom surface formed at a position slightly retracted so as not to come into contact with the floor sheet, and accommodates first blade 115 and spacer 120 between the floor sheet and the bottom surface of the main body. To facilitate adjustment of the positions of first blade 115 and spacer 120, protrusions (operation knobs) are located on opposite sides of each other, and with set screw 122 loosened, they can be slid left and right in the figure to a trimming cut position and can be fixed in an unused position as shown in FIG.

[0042] Next, the configuration of the front part 102 will be described. A front plate 105 is fixed to the front part 102 of the tool 100 so as to be freely movable in the longitudinal direction. A slot extending in the longitudinal direction is formed on the inside of the front plate 105, and a first groove cutting blade 118 protrudes into this slot to cut grooves in the floor sheet. The front end of the front plate 105 is formed as a curve protruding in the longitudinal direction, and an inclined inclined surface 108a is formed at the front end.

[0043] This inclined surface 108a enables smooth groove cutting by overcoming unevenness formed in the floor sheet, and also provides a switch function for releasing the stabilizing member 124 from the groove when cutting a curved groove. In addition, a flat guide plate 108 is attached to the center of the inclined surface 108a, making it possible to cut a groove along the seam formed in the floor sheet. The tool 100 of this embodiment enables smooth groove cutting, from straight to curved grooves, without the need to change parts or components.

[0044] The front plate 105 is formed with a series of screw receiving holes that allow the threaded portions of the set screws 121 to pass through so that the amount of protrusion from the main body can be adjusted, and the front plate 105 is fixed to the main body by screwing the set screws 121 through the screw receiving holes into screw holes formed at corresponding positions on the main body.

[0045] FIG. 5 is a front view of the tool 100 of this embodiment. The front view of FIG. 5 shows in detail the configuration of the front plate 105, first groove cutting blade 118, and guide plate 108 of the tool 100 of this embodiment. Depending on the requirements of construction, the first groove cutting blade 118 can be arranged to extend behind the guide plate 108 and start grooving behind the guide plate 108. In addition, the first groove cutting blade 118 is available in a plurality of diameters, and when the diameter is small, it is housed in a sleeve 119 and fixed to the front of the tool 100. The groove cutting blade 118 with a large diameter is housed directly in a slot in the fixing portion 110a and fixed by the fixing screw 110.

[0046] The gripping portion 101 has a curved, no-corner shape to reduce strain on the palm of the user. The side guide rollers 113a and 113b are held at a height where they come into contact with the floor sheet when the stabilizing member 124 is fitted into the groove.

[0047] 6 is a rear view of the tool 100 of this embodiment, showing the configuration for accommodating the first blade 115, the second blade 114, and the spacer 120 used in trimming. For clarity, the rear portion 104 of the tool 100 in FIG. 6 is shown with the second groove cutting blade 111 in a retracted position. The first blade 115 and the spacer 120 are sandwiched between the bottom surface of the tool 100 and the rear plate 107, with the spacer 120 facing the floor sheet.

[0048] The first blade 115 and spacer 120 can be adjusted to a fixed or extended position by tightening or loosening a set screw 122. The second groove cutting blade 111 extends freely through the space between a notch 125a formed in the rear plate 107 and a notch 125b formed in the main body to the floor sheet and cuts a groove.

[0049] Additionally, a second blade 114 can protrude from above the rear end of the tool 100 through a rear opening of the stop-end slot 101a. The second blade 114 is used to perform trimming cuts by itself after welding the welding rod. As described above, trimming is performed in one or two stages depending on the construction situation.

[0050] The one-time trimming cut corresponds to the case where the floor sheet is trimmed by the first blade 115, 115-1, 115-2, or the second blade 114, without using the spacer 120. The two-time trimming cut is performed by using the first blade 115, 115-1, 115-2 in combination with the spacer 120 to trim the upper portion of the protruding part of the welding rod, and then flattening the welded material to the level of the floor sheet by the first blade 115, 115-1, 115-2, or the second blade 114.

[0051] The trimming with second blade 114 and the trimming with first blade 115 or first blade 115-1 or 115-2 described below can be selected as appropriate depending on the shape of the tool used and the construction situation. However, depending on the properties of the floor sheet, it is also possible to perform the trimming cut using only first blade 115, 115-1 or 115-2 without pulling out spacer 120 during the trimming cut.

[0052] FIG. 7 shows a tool 100-1 according to a second embodiment. The tool 100-1 according to the second embodiment does not have the stop slot 101a formed in the tool 100 according to the first embodiment. Instead, the tool 100-1 has a first blade 115, 115-1, or 115-2, on the rear bottom side of the tool 100-1. The rest of the configuration is similar to that of the tool 100 according to the first embodiment. Note that in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 7, for clarity, the tool 100-1 is shown using the first blade 115-2.

[0053] The first blade 115-2 has a curved portion that curves upward at the end facing the floor sheet to enable trimming cuts, and a blade for flattening the welding rod is formed in the center of the width of the first blade 115-2. The tool 100-1 of the second embodiment can be used in combination with any of the first blades 115, 115-1, and 115-2. The first blades 115 and 115-1 may also be used in combination with the tool 100 of the first embodiment.

[0054] The curved portion of the first blade 115-2 contacts the floor sheet while tilting upward, allowing it to smoothly overcome unevenness in the floor sheet and irregularities in the design and perform trimming cuts. The welding rod is also cut by a blade formed in the center of the first blade 115-2, performing the trimming cuts.

[0055] 8 shows the structure of the rear end portion of the tool 100-1, including the first blade 115-2. When the first blade 115-2 is used as the first blade, the curved tip portion protrudes slightly upward from the rear end portion of the tool 100-1, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 8. Similarly to the tool 100, the first blade 115-2 is also sandwiched between the rear plate 107 and the main body, just like the first blades 115 and 115-1.

[0056] The first blade 115-1 has a shape similar to that of the first blade 115. However, unlike the first blade 115, the first blade 115-1 has a blade formed in a notch in the center, rather than a straight blade. Therefore, when the welding rod is trimmed immediately after welding, the blade comes into contact with the welding rod at the back of the notch.

[0057] The tool 100-1 of the second embodiment can flatten the protruding portion of the welding rod with the first blade 115, 115-1 or 115-2 without the second blade 114, thereby enabling more efficient construction.

[0058] FIG. 9 is an exemplary plan view of the first groove cutting blade 118 and the second groove cutting blade 111 of this embodiment. The first groove cutting blade 118 and the second groove cutting blade 111 have different diameters but are generally similar in configuration. The tip of the first groove cutting blade 118 is equipped with a blade for cutting grooves in the floor sheet, and grooves the seams of the floor sheet. The second groove cutting blade 111 is used for two purposes. The first purpose is to cut a groove on the wall side that the first groove cutting blade 118 left uncut for the front plate 105. The second purpose is to cut a deeper second groove inside the groove formed by the first groove cutting blade 118.

[0059] When cutting a second groove, tool 100 or 100-1 can be turned to the opposite side to cut a deeper second groove along the groove formed by first groove cutting blade 118, which is useful for construction applications such as increasing the cross-sectional area of ​​the groove when welding floor sheets made of a material such as linoleum. Note that the second groove can also be cut by pulling back second groove cutting blade 111 along the groove cut by first groove cutting blade 118 without turning tool 100 to the opposite side.

[0060] When cutting a second groove with tool 100 or 100-1 of this embodiment, the first groove serves as a groove cutting guide, so groove cutting can be performed efficiently not only along straight lines but also along curved lines even without the guide plate 108 formed on the front plate 105.

[0061] Figure 10 is a plan view of the second blade 114, first blades 115, 115-1, and spacer 120 used in this embodiment. The components are arranged so that the downward direction in Figure 10 corresponds to the direction in which trimming cuts are performed. Figure 10(a) shows the second blade 114, Figure 10(b) shows the first blade 115, Figure 10(c) shows the first blade 115-1 of another embodiment, and Figure 10(d) shows the spacer 120.

[0062] Before describing the structure of each blade, we will briefly explain how they are used. The second blade 114 is housed in the stop-end slot 101a of the tool 100 of the first embodiment and is used exclusively with the tool 100 of the first embodiment.

[0063] The first blade 115, the first blade 115-1, and in more detail the first blade 115-2 of another embodiment described later in FIG. 11 are used for trimming cuts in both the first embodiment of the tool 100 and the second embodiment of the tool 100-1. The first blade 115, the first blade 115-1, and in more detail the first blade 115-2 described later in FIG. 11 can be used together with a spacer 120 as appropriate. The spacer 120 may not be used depending on the surface properties of the floor sheet to be trimmed, such as when the floor sheet is uneven or has a non-slip coating.

[0064] First, the second blade 114 will be described. The second blade 114 has a generally rectangular outer shape with a longitudinally extending slot formed in its center. This slot is open on the side that is inserted into the tool 100 and has an end portion defined by a connecting portion 114b in the direction that it exits the tool 100. A notched blade 114e is formed in the center of the connecting portion 114b, and this notched blade 114e has a shape that increases in thickness toward the top of the page. This notched blade 114e captures the welding rod protruding from the floor sheet within the notch, allowing for efficient cutting of the welding rod and enabling trimming cuts along the seam without misalignment.

[0065] A circular aperture 114d is formed at the open end of extension 114c on the right hand side of the drawing of second blade 114. Circular aperture 114d accommodates the tip of the threaded portion of set screw 116 extending from tool 100 and functions as a stopper during trimming cuts. A protrusion 114a is formed below extension 114c to allow second blade 114 to be inserted and removed from outside tool 100. This protrusion 114a protrudes from the open end of the stop slot of tool 100, allowing the position of second blade 114 in the longitudinal direction of tool 100 to be adjusted.

[0066] Additionally, a notched edge 114e at the center of connecting portion 114b, which connects both extension portions 114c of second blade 114, abuts against the welding rod while protruding from tool 100, cutting the welding rod at the abutting portion. Second extension portion 114c extends from the opposite side of the longitudinal slot, forming a U-shape for second blade 114. Second blade 114 can be formed from an elastic body that bends when pressed at an angle against the floor sheet and returns to its flat shape when the force is removed.

[0067] 10(b) is a plan view of the first blade 115. The first blade 115 is also generally U-shaped like the second blade 114. A continuous blade 115e is formed in the portion of the first blade 115 corresponding to the connecting portion 115b along its extension direction. This blade 115e is formed in a direction that cuts into the welding material protruding from the floor sheet (becoming thicker toward the top of the page). The cutting depth can be adjusted by the spacer 120.

[0068] Furthermore, positioning notches 115d for determining the amount of protrusion of the cutting edge 115e are formed in both extensions 115c of the first blade 115. The positioning notch 115d closer to the tip also functions to impart appropriate elasticity to the tip of the first blade.

[0069] FIG. 10(c) shows a first blade 115-1 according to another embodiment. Like the second blade 114, the first blade 115-1 has a notched edge 115-1e formed in the center of the tip of the connecting portion 115-1b. However, its usage is similar to that of the first blade 115 shown in FIG. 10(b). The first blade 115-1 can selectively apply shearing force to the protruding portion of the welding rod captured by the spacer 120 using the notched edge 115-1e. Therefore, the first blade 115-1 has good force utilization efficiency and a sharp edge. In other words, it allows for easier trimming while reducing the risk of damaging areas other than the welding rod. Furthermore, like the notched edge 114e of the second blade 114, the notched edge 115-1e captures the welding rod protruding from the floor sheet within the notch, enabling trimming along the seam without misalignment.

[0070] FIG. 10(d) is a front view of the spacer 120 according to this embodiment. The spacer 120 shown in FIG. 10(d) is similar to the second blade 114 and the first blades 115 and 115-1 in that it has a central slot extending in the longitudinal direction. Meanwhile, the spacer 120 has a shape in which the end 120e protruding from the rear of the main body is freed by the second slot, and a connecting portion 120b is formed on the side that is housed in the rear of the main body. This second slot extends across a setscrew 122, allowing the spacer 120 to move freely using the setscrew 122 as a guide.

[0071] A protrusion 120a is formed on the right-hand extension 120c at the rear of the main body in a position that does not interfere with the adjustment of first blades 115, 115-1. Positioning notches 120d are formed at appropriate positions on the second slot side of the left and right extensions 120c, so that first blades 115, 115-1, 115-2 and spacer 120 can be fixed in a relative position that keeps the relative position of first blades 115, 115-1, 115-2 constant.

[0072] 11 is a plan view of a first blade 115-2 according to yet another embodiment. The first blade 115-2 has a shape generally similar to that of the first blade 115, including extensions 115-2c extending on both sides of a slot and a connecting portion 115-2b connecting the left and right extensions 115-2c in the width direction. A notched blade 115-2d is provided in the center of the connecting portion 115-2b, and the blade 115-2d straddles the welding rod and makes a cut by abutting against it. The inclination of the blade 115-2d is such that it penetrates into the welding rod, i.e., it becomes thicker from the bottom to the top of the drawing. Like the notched blades 115-1e and 114e of the first blade 115-1 and the second blade 114 described above, the notched blade 115-2d captures the welding rod protruding from the floor sheet within the notch, enabling efficient cutting of the welding rod and enabling trimming cuts along the seam without misalignment. The notched blade 115-2e is not particularly limited, but can be approximately the same size as the notch 125e formed at the rear of the tool and shown in Figure 4, or a size that allows the second groove cutting blade 111 to be freely inserted and removed.

[0073] The front ends of the connecting portions 115-2b on both sides of the cutting edge 115-2e of the first blade 115-2 are curved upward toward the floor sheet. This curved surface provides a surface that contacts the floor sheet at an obtuse angle during trimming, allowing for smooth trimming regardless of unevenness in the floor sheet or irregularities due to design or function. Furthermore, a protrusion 115-2a is formed on the rear side of the left-hand extension 115-c, making it easier to position the main body from the side.

[0074] FIG. 12 shows a front view (FIG. 12(a)) and a side view (FIG. 12(b)) of yet another first blade 115-2 of this embodiment. FIG. 12(a) is the same as that described in FIG. 11, so a detailed description will be omitted. FIG. 12(b) will be used to describe the curved surface at the tip of the first blade 115-2 of yet another embodiment. As described above, the edges of the protrusions 115a, 115-1a, 115-2a, and 120a shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 on their front end sides engage with the step formed between the rear portion 104 and the middle portion 103, and the positioning notch on the back side aligns with the position of the set screw 122, improving fixation and stabilizing the quality of repeated trimming cuts.

[0075] As mentioned above, this curved surface allows the first blade 115-2 to contact the floor sheet at an obtuse angle and overcome any unevenness or design or functional irregularities on the floor sheet surface. A notched blade 115-2e is formed in the center of the width direction, extending across the curved surface in the longitudinal direction. This blade 115-2e cuts into the protruding portion of the welding rod, enabling trimming. Furthermore, because the curved surface suppresses any unevenness or irregularities on the floor sheet, a single trimming cut can achieve the desired level of flattening.

[0076] The trimming cut using the first blade 115, 115-1, or 115-2 and the spacer 120 shown in Figures 10 and 11 is as follows: The welding rod is trimmed along the welding rod by the first blade 115, 115-1, or 115-2, leaving a thickness equal to the thickness of the spacer 120. Note that the double cut does not need to be applied if the spacer 120 is not used during the trimming cut.

[0077] If this protrusion occurs, it can cause problems such as the accumulation of dirt or getting caught on footwear, so a double cut is then performed using second blade 114 and first blade 115, 115-1 or 115-2. When performing a double cut using first blade 115, 115-1 or 115-2, spacer 120 is positioned so as to be housed in the main body.

[0078] 13 is a schematic diagram showing how a groove is cut in a floor sheet 200 using the tool 100 of this embodiment, a welding rod 202 is welded, and the welded portion is then trimmed and cut using the tool 100 of this embodiment. Note that the embodiment shown in FIG. 13 is shown as an example of an embodiment in which the welding rod 202 is cut twice. A groove 201 is cut in the seam of the floor sheet 200 up to the position indicated by the dashed line using the tool 100 of this embodiment, and the welding rod 202 is welded to the groove.

[0079] A spacer 120 and a first blade 115 protrude from the rear of the tool 100. The tool 100 is tilted upward relative to the floor sheet 200, with the spacer 120 in contact with the surface of the floor sheet. The first blade 115 is positioned in contact with the upper side of the spacer 120. The first blade 115 on the spacer 120 trims and cuts the welding rod 202, leaving a predetermined height defined by the thickness of the spacer 120.

[0080] The rear end of the rear plate 107, located at the rear of the tool 100, has a tapered surface that slopes upward so that it can accommodate unevenness or irregularities on the surface of the floor sheet 200 even when the tool 100 is tilted. This allows the tool 100 to slide smoothly over the surface of the floor sheet 200. During trimming cuts, the spacer 120, when tilted, holds the welding rod 202 in a slot formed in its center and guides the tool 100 along the welding rod. Note that in FIG. 13, the first blade 115 can also be referred to as the first blade 115-1.

[0081] As the first blade 115 or 115-1 and spacer 120 protruding from the rear edge of the tool 100 move along the welding rod 202, the cut floor sheet separates from the sheet as chips 202a. In the embodiment shown in Figure 13, trimming is performed by a double cut, so the uncut welding rod is shown sticking out from the side of the welding rod 202 closest to the floor sheet 200.

[0082] 14 is a schematic diagram of a two-degree cut in this embodiment that flattens the welding rod 202 to the surface level of the floor sheet 200. The two-degree cut is performed by protruding the second blade 114, housed in the stop-end slot shown in FIG. 1, from the rear end of the tool 100. The second blade 114 protrudes from the rear end of the tool 100 at an acute angle. The second blade 114 trims the remaining portion 202b of the welding rod with a notched edge 114e formed in the center of the second blade, and as it advances, it cuts off the remaining portion of the welding rod 202 and flattens the floor sheet 200.

[0083] The second blade 114 is not a rigid rod like the first groove cutting blade 118 and the second groove cutting blade 111, but is formed from an elastic plate material, so it can accommodate even slight unevenness in the floor sheet 200.

[0084] In addition, the tool 100 of the first embodiment and the tool 100-1 of the second embodiment of this invention are capable of trimming down to the floor sheet level using only the first blade 115, 115-1 or 115-2 depending on the properties of the floor sheet.

[0085] FIG. 15 shows an embodiment in which the tool 100-1 of the second embodiment is used to perform a trimming cut in one go with a first blade 115-2.

[0086] When performing a trimming cut using the tool 100-1 of the second embodiment, the tool 100-1 is positioned slightly inclined from the floor sheet so that the first blade 115-2 applies force from above to the welding rod. The notched edge 115-2e comes into contact with the first blade 115-2 near the position where it contacts the floor sheet 200.

[0087] In the embodiment of FIG. 15, a spacer 120 is not used, so the welding rod is flattened with a single trimming cut. Depending on the application situation, a spacer 120 can be placed below the first blade 115-2 to perform a double trimming cut. When using this combination, the double trimming cut is performed by retracting the spacer 120 to the bottom of the main body and using the first blade 115-2. In the embodiment of FIG. 15, the first blade 115-2 may be replaced with the first blade 115-1 of other embodiments. The first blade 115-1 has a notched edge 115-1e formed in its center, which selectively contacts the protruding portion of the welding rod and prevents damage to the floor sheet around the welding rod. This allows for efficient trimming with little force, even on floor sheets with slight irregularities.

[0088] 16 is a schematic diagram of groove cutting using the tool 100 of this embodiment, viewed from directly above. The tool 100 forms a groove 201 along a seam 203 formed in the floor sheet 200 using a blade formed at the tip of the first groove cutting blade 118. Cutting chips 204 of the floor sheet 200 cut by the first groove cutting blade 118 are pushed upward through the opening 109 of the tool 100 so as not to remain on hand.

[0089] When cutting a curved groove, the tool 100 is tilted slightly in the groove cutting direction, and the stabilizing member 124 is lifted from the groove to release the direction of travel of the tool. Thereafter, the tool 100 is bent along the curve to cut a continuous groove along the curve.

[0090] 17 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the welding process of this embodiment. A welding rod 202 is welded along a groove 201 formed in a floor sheet 200 by a tool 100. Welding of the welding rod 202 can be performed using a welding device 210 known as a "Gaswell" (trademark), which uses a portable gas cylinder used for gas burners, etc. The welding device 210 continuously burns flammable gas discharged from the gas cylinder inside, heating the ceramic honeycomb and generating hot air.

[0091] The generated hot air heats the tip of the nozzle of the welding device 210, softening and melting the welding rod 202 made of a thermoplastic material that is passed through the tip of the nozzle. As the flat part formed at the tip of the nozzle recedes to the left of the page, the softened and melted welding rod 202 is pressed into the groove 201, welding across both sides of the seam. This welding process unites the floor sheet 200.

[0092] The welding rod 202 is not completely melted, but softened to an extent that it can generate adhesive force before being pressed into the groove 201, so that a portion of the welding rod 202 protrudes from the groove 201. A trimming cut is applied to this protruding portion of the welding rod 202. The trimming cut has been described in detail with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15.

[0093] FIG. 18 shows the process of installing a floor sheet 200 using the tool 100 of this embodiment, step by step. In FIG. 18(a), the floor sheet 200 is placed on a floor slab, leaving a seam 203. Then, as shown in FIG. 18(b), grooves are cut using the tool 100 of this embodiment. Then, as shown in FIG. 18(c), a welding rod 202 is welded. Note that part of the welding rod may penetrate into the seam 203.

[0094] Then, a first flattening step (trimming cut) is performed using the first blade 115 and spacer 120 of the tool 100 of this embodiment. At this stage, the remaining portion 202b of the welding rod protrudes above the floor sheet 200 as shown in FIG. 18(d). This remaining portion 202b is cut off in a second flattening step (double cut) using the first blade 115, and flattened to the surface level of the floor sheet 200 as shown in FIG. 18(e). If a single trimming cut is sufficient without using the spacer 120, the step of FIG. 18(d) is skipped, and the state shown in FIG. 18(e) is obtained. It will be understood that in the state shown in FIG. 18(e), if the floor sheet has slight irregularities or irregularities due to the design, the upper surface of the floor sheet corresponds to the level of the upper part of the irregularities.

[0095] As described above, with the tools 100 and 100-1 of this embodiment, one tool can be used for everything from cutting grooves in floor sheets to trimming welding rods during welding, thereby improving the efficiency of floor sheet construction.

[0096] A tool according to a third embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 19. The tool 1900 shown in FIG. 19 is smaller than the first and second tools. The gripping portion 1901, rear portion, middle portion, and front portion are integrated into a bottom member 1905, and the bottom portion is formed continuously with the gripping portion 1901. A guide plate 1908 is detachably fixed to the tip of the bottom member 1905. The lower side of the gripping portion 1901 is open above the bottom member 1905, making it easier for the user to grip the tool 1900. A groove cutting blade 1918 is fixed to a fixing portion 1910a by a fixing screw 1910. The groove cutting blade 1918 protrudes from a space formed at the tip of the bottom member 1905 through a receiving groove formed in the front portion of the main body, down to the floor sheet, enabling groove cutting. The groove cutting blade 1919 is fixed to the main body by a fixing screw 1910 passed through a fixing portion 1910a, similar to the tools 100 and 100-1 of the first and second embodiments.

[0097] A set screw 1924 is threaded into the rear of the tool 1900, and a first blade 1920-2 of another embodiment is attached, having a shape corresponding to the first blade 115, 115-1, or 115-2 of the tool 100-1 and a size that fits the tool 1900. In FIG. 19, the first blade 1920-2 is shown to have a shape similar to that of the first blade 115-2, with its tip protruding from the rear end of the tool 1900. The first blade 1920-2 is formed small to match the small size of the tool 1900. Note that the first blade 1920-1 may also be formed with a notched edge in the center, like the first blade 115-1 shown in FIG. 10(c), and reduced to an appropriate size to fit the tool 1900.

[0098] The tool 1900 shown in FIG. 19 can also perform processes from groove cutting for joints formed in floor sheets to post-welding treatment with a single tool, thereby enabling more efficient and less costly floor sheet construction. [Industrial Applicability]

[0099] As described above, according to this embodiment, a multipurpose tool for floor construction can be provided that can improve the efficiency of floor sheet joint construction, including groove cutting and post-weld processing.

Claims

1. A tool for installing a floor sheet, the tool comprising: a main body portion including a front portion facing the floor sheet, a middle portion, a rear portion, and a grip portion extending upward from the rear portion and connecting to the front portion; a first groove cutting blade that is detachably fixed to the main body portion and protrudes toward the floor sheet from the front portion to cut a groove at a seam of the floor sheet; a flat guide plate disposed at a tip of the tool for guiding the tool along the seam; a first blade movably fixed to the rear portion for trimming the welding rod welded in the groove; A tool that is equipped with:

2. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the front portion has an opening through which the first groove cutting blade extends to the floor sheet, and the guide plate is fixed to a tip of the front portion.

3. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein a front plate having an opening through which the first groove cutting blade extends to the floor sheet is removably fixed to the front portion, and the guide plate is fixed to a tip of the front plate.

4. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a spacer secured to the floor sheet side of the first blade and including a second slot.

5. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the first blade has a straight edge extending across the groove on the floor sheet side or a notched edge formed at the center of the tip of the first blade.

6. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the first blade has a curved portion on the floor sheet side that curves toward the opposite side of the floor sheet, and has a notched cutting edge formed in a central portion of the curved portion.

7. 2. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a second blade received in a stop-end slot formed in the body portion, extending at an angle relative to the floor sheet, and having an aperture for securing to the body portion.

8. The tool of claim 3 , further comprising a second groove cutting blade extending from the gripping portion through the rear portion to the floor sheet.

9. The tool of claim 4 , further comprising a second groove cutting blade extending from the gripping portion through the rear portion to the floor sheet.

10. The tool according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the second groove cutting blade cuts a groove at the wall edge that was left uncut by the first groove cutting blade, or cuts a deeper second groove within the first groove formed by the first groove cutting blade.

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