Roy Roberts (inventor)
Encyclopedia
Roy Roberts was the inventor of the gripper rod (UK) or tack strip
(USA) used to secure carpets.
His innovation in 1938 revolutionised the fitting system for carpets, allowing installers to quickly set a perimeter of grippers onto which the carpet edge could be quickly stretched. Prior to this an installer would typically fold and nail the edge of a carpet at frequent intervals, which was slower and gave a less uniform finish.
Building upon this success he went on to invent further innovations in the carpet industry, and his companies, now named Roberts Consolidated Industries, are a leading manufacturer of flooring installation tools and accessories.
Tack strip
Tack strip or gripper rod is an instrument used in the installation of carpet. The tack strip is a thin piece of wood, between 1 and 2 meters long, studded with hundreds of sharp nails or tacks. The tack strips are nailed, tack side up, to the perimeter of the area being carpeted...
(USA) used to secure carpets.
His innovation in 1938 revolutionised the fitting system for carpets, allowing installers to quickly set a perimeter of grippers onto which the carpet edge could be quickly stretched. Prior to this an installer would typically fold and nail the edge of a carpet at frequent intervals, which was slower and gave a less uniform finish.
Building upon this success he went on to invent further innovations in the carpet industry, and his companies, now named Roberts Consolidated Industries, are a leading manufacturer of flooring installation tools and accessories.