Carpet stretching tool

Claim 1

A carpet stretching tool extending along a horizontal longitudinal-axis and comprising: A. a pair of laterally extending and substantially parallel barbed bars including a lead-bar longitudinally spaced from a trail-bar, each barbed bar including a plurality of downwardly extending barbs having sharp-ends collectively defining the tool horizontal bottom-plane and being adapted to removably engage distinct terminal lengths of carpet to be stretched into proximity; B. longitudinally extending guide means attached to the respective barbed bars and located in elevation above the downwardly extending barbs, said guide means being adapted to permit relative longitudinal movement between the carpet engaging barbed bars while also maintaining them in substantial upright parallelism, said guide means comprising a cross-sectionally non-circular collar extending upwardly from one of the barbed bars and a cross-sectionally non-circular longitudinally extending shank attached to the other barbed bar and slidably extending through said collar; and C. force application means attached to the respective barbed bars and occupying a distinct elevation located intermediate the downwardly extending barbs and said guide means shank, said force application means being adapted to cause relative longitudinal movement between the carpet engaging barbed bars through said guide means and including: i. a longitudinally extending elongate threaded stud located in elevation below said guide means longitudinal shank, said stud being firmly attached to one of the barbed bars and being movably surrounded by the other barbed bar; and ii. a handle threadedly engaged with said elongate stud remote from the stud attachment and adapted to apply direct pressure upon the movable barbed bar as said handle is moved along the threaded stud whereby the movable barbed bar is caused by said handle to move toward the stud attached barbed bar.