Lancaster, Pa.—Perhaps the greatest challenge to flooring professionals is the wear and tear the constant motion has on their bodies. After a long day of nailing underlayment, preparing concrete, gluing, or installing, one thing’s for sure—knees, legs, back, and neck are stressed. And this stress leads to many other problems.
Mark Legenstein is a second-generation flooring installer who loved what he was doing, but experienced the pain and discomfort of working day-to-day in the field. “Eight years ago, when I first started at my dad’s business, Certified Carpet in Lancaster, Pa., I was a helper/apprentice for the first three months. After becoming frustrated by the repetitive work taking its toll on me, I thought there had to be a better way.
“I went out to a local hardware store,” he explained, “bought some dollies and bolted them to a knee pad. The results were incredible. There was no moving directly on my knee or pounding my body. By gliding across the floor, it brought a different feeling and result to the job.”
Legenstein’s innovation led to Knee Blades, a revolutionary tool for flooring professionals that already has gained the interest of the industry. “Knee Blades are completely manufactured in America of the highest quality materials, to the most rigorous standards in its class. Knee Blades’ patended design allows users maximum mobility and functionaility to move in any job-site environment at lightening speeds,” he said.
The knee pad is a one-strap, Velcro-fitted design that adds comfort and lessens tension on the back of the knee, he noted. The pad is shaped to fit the contour of the knee for added comfort and contains air pockets to evenly displace weight and lessen direct pressure on the knee. An extra layer of padding at the top of the pad adds comfort when kneeling.
Made of the highest quality lightweight and durable plastic, the three-wheeled roller base allows for maximum mobility and speed. The design allows full 360-degree turn capability without lifting from the floor. “The best available wheels allow the user to glide from wall-to-wall in a minimal amount of time,” said Legenstein. “And because each Knee Blade is independent of the other, there’s greater flexilibility of use in those tight spots, allowing for more balance, flexibility and mobility.” Each Knee Blade weighs 3-1/4lbs., with the pad weighing one pound and the housing another 2-1/4lbs. A button release allows users to detach the wheeled base to take advantage of the kneepads.
For more on Knee Blades, call 866/885-6667.
—Louis Iannaco
