U.S. patent application number 10/446458 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-02 for brackets for supporting and aligning wall members for attachment.
Invention is credited to Alfonso, Jim, Haley, Christopher.
Application Number | 20040237443 10/446458 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33451041 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040237443 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Haley, Christopher ; et
al. |
December 2, 2004 |
Brackets for supporting and aligning wall members for
attachment
Abstract
A series of brackets that are inexpensively cut and bent from
sheet metal in a stamping process, and are used as an aid in
construction projects. The brackets are designed for support and
alignment of wall panels; wallboards or lap boards while the same
are being positioned for attachment to the structure. These
fixtures are configured to align with the support structure,
automatically aligning the wall panel, wallboards, or lap boards to
be attached, and continuing to support and align the boards during
and after attachment. The brackets are inexpensive to manufacture
and can remain on the structure, thereby providing continual
support and alignment. Ledge portions with bent up outer corner
points engage and support the wall members.
Inventors: |
Haley, Christopher; (Yelm,
WA) ; Alfonso, Jim; (Yelm, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Donald W. Meeker
750 La Playa, #512
San Francisco
CA
94121
US
|
Family ID: |
33451041 |
Appl. No.: |
10/446458 |
Filed: |
May 28, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/545 ; 52/547;
52/96 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 13/0823 20130101;
E04F 13/0864 20130101; E04B 1/2608 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/545 ;
052/547; 052/096 |
International
Class: |
E04D 001/34; E04D
013/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A construction support and alignment device for supporting and
aligning vertical wall members for attachment, the device
comprising: a bracket cut and bent from sheet metal to conform to a
portion of a support structure in a building, the bracket having at
least one bracket horizontal surface capable of being aligned with
a horizontal surface of the support structure, at least one bracket
vertical surface extending from the horizontal surface, the bracket
vertical surface capable of being aligned with a vertical surface
of the support structure, a means for permanently attaching the
bracket to the support structure, and at least one protruding ledge
portion extending from the bracket vertical surface in a fixed
relationship with the bracket horizontal surface so that when the
bracket is in use with at least one additional bracket in spaced
alignment, the ledge portions being capable of supporting and
aligning a wall member to allow the wall member to be attached to
the support structure with the wall member in a fixed alignment
with the support structure determined by the position of the ledge
relative to the bracket horizontal surface.
2. The construction support device of claim 1 wherein the ledge
portion further comprises two outer corners bent upwardly to form
gripping points capable of piercing and engaging a bottom of a wall
member placed on the ledge portion to prevent movement of the wall
member relative to the ledge portion.
3. The construction support device of claim 2 wherein the means for
permanently attaching the bracket comprises at least one surface
having an opening therethrough to receive a connecting means
through the opening and into a portion of the support
structure.
4. The construction support device of claim 3 wherein the
connecting means comprises a nail.
5. The construction support device of claim 2 wherein the bracket
horizontal surface extends inwardly from a top of the bracket
vertical surface and is capable of resting on top of a mud plate
board on a foundation wall with the bracket vertical surface on an
outside face of the mud plate board, and the ledge extends from a
bottom of the bracket vertical surface outwardly away from the
support structure, the ledge being aligned with a top of the
foundation wall so that the ledge is capable of supporting a wall
board aligned with the top of the foundation.
6. The construction support device of claim 2 wherein the bracket
horizontal surface extends inwardly from a top of the bracket
vertical surface and is capable of resting on top of a mud plate
board on a foundation wall with the bracket vertical surface on an
outside face of the mud plate board, and the ledge extends from a
bottom of the bracket vertical surface outwardly away from the
support structure, the ledge being aligned a set distance below a
top of the foundation wall so that the ledge is capable of
supporting a wall board overhanging the top of the foundation by
the set distance.
7. The construction support device of claim 2 wherein the bracket
horizontal surface extends inwardly from a top of the bracket
vertical surface and is capable of aligning with and contacting a
bottom surface of a cantilevered floor joist with the bracket
vertical surface on an outside face of the cantilevered floor
joist, and the ledge extends from the bracket vertical outwardly
away from the support structure surface in alignment with the
bracket horizontal surface, so that the ledge is capable of
supporting a wall board aligned with the bottom surface of a
cantilevered floor joist.
8. The construction support device of claim 2 wherein the bracket
horizontal surface extends inwardly from a top of the bracket
vertical surface and is capable of aligning with and contacting a
bottom surface of a cantilevered floor joist with the bracket
vertical surface on an outside face of the cantilevered floor
joist, and the ledge extends from the bracket vertical outwardly
away from the support structure surface below the bracket
horizontal surface a set distance, so that the ledge is capable of
supporting a wall board overhanging the bottom surface of the
cantilevered floor joist by the set distance.
9. The construction support device of claim 2 wherein the bracket
horizontal surface extends inwardly from a top of a first bracket
vertical surface and is capable of aligning with and contacting a
top surface of a first lap board with the first bracket vertical
surface on an outside face of the first lap board, and the ledge
extends from the first bracket vertical outwardly away from the
support structure surface below the bracket horizontal surface a
set distance, so that the ledge is capable of supporting a second
lap board overhanging the top surface of the first lap board by the
set distance and further comprising a second bracket vertical
surface extending upwardly from an inner edge of the bracket
horizontal surface so that the second bracket vertical surface
rests against a vertical portion of the support structure is
capable of being permanently attached thereto.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to fixtures for supporting
large panels, and more particularly for brackets which
automatically align themselves when attached to a structure and are
used in construction projects to support and align wall panels and
wall boards so that they may be attached to the structure with the
brackets remaining in place after attachment as added support.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] In the construction of a building large wall boards, such as
concrete boards, plywood wall boards, and even overlapping siding
boards, typically require at least two people to support and align
the wall boards while one or more others nail the wall boards in
place. Since labor costs are very high, buildings are made more
expensive by requiring a large number of workers.
[0003] Various jigs and fixtures have been used in the prior art
for aligning and attaching construction material to vertical
sidewalls.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,245, issued Oct. 15, 1996 to Rademacher,
shows an apparatus for installing a floating siding wall of lap
siding on vertical studs, including a series of specially formed
siding locator-retainer members which are fastened to the studs
with the siding members situated therein, the siding members not
being fastened to the studs directly; and the resulting siding
wall.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,499, issued Nov. 14, 1995 to LaPlante,
provides a tool for installing siding on a building wall wherein
only two formed metal parts are shown which are of utter simplicity
and are relatively adjustable one to the other to provide variation
in desired exposure to weather of each underlying siding member as
determined by the positioning of the parts in assembled relation. A
generally J-shaped bracket and an adjustable U-shaped siding
support are provided with the support being releasably attached to
the bracket with a pair of legs on the support extending through a
pair of a series of openings in the bracket. The bracket has a
lower hook with a reversibly bent lip which may be inserted into
wedged engagement between a building wall and an affixed strip of
siding for readily securing the tool in position to enable a leg of
the support to provide the only assistance required for a single
worker to install an overlying strip of siding.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,127, issued Nov. 19, 1996 to O'Neal,
claims a siding attachment system which includes a bracket and a
clip for use in securing conventional siding panels to a wall. The
bracket comprises a vertical extending web having legs extending
rearwardly from a rear surface of the web at upper and lower ends
of the web. A shoulder extends forwardly and downwardly from the
front surface of the web at the lower end of the web. The shoulder
is insertable in a channel formed in a rear surface of conventional
siding. The shoulder supports the siding panel but permits the
panel to slide longitudinally with respect to the bracket. A
plurality of nail holes are uniformly spaced in linear alignment
across a top portion of the web along its entire length. Nails or
related fasteners may be selectively driven through the nail holes
for securing the bracket to a wall. The siding clip generally
comprises a rectangular sheet having a height corresponding to the
height of the web and having at least one nail hole extending
through an upper portion thereof. The clip is positionable against
and securable to the bracket after a siding panel has been secured
to the bracket such that a nail flange of the panel extends between
a lower portion of the clip and a lower portion of the web and is
permitted to slide longitudinally therebetween.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,945, issued Mar. 10, 1981 to Paulson,
describes a fixture for use in hanging large panels of the type
typically found in construction projects, the fixture including an
elongated shelf or tray which may be horizontally aligned on the
construction project and fastened to vertical studs by nails which
are selectively positioned in channels along a vertical side wall
of the fixture and in the shape of inverted "T's" or "L's". After
the fixture has been used to align, support and fasten large panels
to the vertical structure the fixture may be conveniently removed
from its supporting position.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,361, issued Oct. 17, 2000 to Murphy, is
for a combination clamp and support bracket for transient support
of sheet goods during their alignment and fastening to underlying
support structures, like joists and studs. The bracket has either
one L-shaped longitudinal end, or at least one offset longitudinal
end, or, in an alternate configuration, a pair of one L-shaped
longitudinal end and the other an offset longitudinal end. A
pattern of bore holes and key slot perforations are arrayed along
the bracket longitudinal axis and provide temporarily tacked pivot
points and/or ledges for subjacent support of the sheet goods
during placements of an abutting edge and permanent fastening. The
brackets are handily displaced and ready for reuse in placement of
subsequent sheet goods, like dry wall installation.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,058, issued Jul. 13, 1999 to Brooker,
shows a siding application tool that allows one person to apply
sheet siding and sub-siding to a building. A vertical guide plate
with slightly bent ends joins a base plate perpendicularly making a
shelf onto which sheets of paneling will rest. The tool will be
attached temporarily to the bottom corner of fastened sheets to
hold the next sheet being applied in position for fastening. The
tool will also be used with a spacer to attach the first sheet of
paneling in the proper location of the corner of the building.
[0010] The prior art patents primarily provide removable support
and alignment brackets and tools requiring more labor to remove the
brackets as well as install them and the tools require a laborer to
use the tools.
[0011] What is needed is an inexpensive set of brackets which
automatically align themselves with an existing structure, such as
a foundation or cantilevered beam, and then support and
automatically align a wall board for attaching the wall board so
that the brackets remain a part of the structure continuing to
provide additional support and alignment to the boards in place on
the wall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] An object of the present invention is to provide a series
self-aligning brackets, enabling a worker to install the brackets
quickly and easily.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide
inexpensive brackets formed from sheet metal which are easy to
manufacture and mass produce by being cut and bent in a stamping
process.
[0014] A corollary object of the present invention is to provide an
inexpensive bracket that can remain on the structure requiring only
one quick and easy installation and not requiring removal of the
brackets.
[0015] One more object of the present invention is to provide a
bracket that can remain on the structure thereby giving continual
support and alignment after the boards are nailed to the
structure.
[0016] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
labor saving device. One worker can quickly install a pair of
brackets. No extra workers are required to hold and align the
wallboard while nailing it the structure, or to remove the brackets
after the construction is done.
[0017] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide
accurate alignment in construction because the brackets
automatically align with the support structure.
[0018] Still one more related object of the present invention is to
provide upturned outer bottom corners on the bracket to form
gripping points to assist in holding the wall members in place.
[0019] In brief, the supportive alignment brackets are
inexpensively formed from sheet metal by being cut and bent in a
stamping process. The brackets are configured to align with the
support structure automatically when the brackets are nailed to the
support structure and to automatically align the wallboards to be
attached, supporting and aligning the boards during attachment and
remaining in place after the wallboards are attached to the
structure. The self-aligning feature of the brackets allows them to
be easily nailed to the support structure. These brackets provide a
labor saving method due to the fact that a single worker can erect
a wall panel, wallboard, or lap board, by nailing a pair of
brackets to the existing support structure, or several brackets
along the length of the wallboard. The wallboard would rest on
brackets and be nailed to the supporting frame structure,
automatically aligned for proper placement by the brackets.
[0020] An advantage of the present invention is to provide
inexpensive brackets which are easy to manufacture and mass
produce.
[0021] Another advantage of the present invention is that it
provides that are quick and easy to install and not requiring
removal of the brackets
[0022] One more advantage of the present invention is in providing
brackets that can remain on the structure providing ongoing support
and alignment after the boards are nailed to the structure.
[0023] A further advantage of the present invention is in providing
a labor saving device. One worker can quickly install a pair of
brackets. No extra workers are required to hold and align the
wallboard while nailing it the structure, or to remove the brackets
after the construction is done.
[0024] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it
provides accurate alignment in construction because brackets
automatically align with the support structure.
[0025] Still one more advantage of the present invention is that
the upturned corner tips prevent slippage of the wall members on
the brackets.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] These and other details of my invention will be described in
connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only
by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and
in which drawings:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bracket used to support a
concrete wall board aligned with the top of the foundation;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 1 shown
nailed to the mud plate and supporting a concrete wall board and
aligning the wall board with the top of the foundation;
[0029] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a vertically elongated
embodiment of the bracket of FIG. 1 used to support a concrete wall
board aligned with a one inch overhang below the top of the
foundation;
[0030] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 3 shown
nailed to the mud plate and supporting a concrete wall board
aligned with a one inch overhang below the top of the
foundation;
[0031] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bracket used to support a
sheet of plywood or wall board aligned with the bottom of a
cantilevered floor joist;
[0032] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 5 shown
nailed to the cantilevered floor joist in alignment with the bottom
of the floor joist and supporting a sheet of plywood or wall board
and aligning the wall board with the bottom of the cantilevered
floor joist;
[0033] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an elongated bracket used to
support a sheet of plywood or wall board aligned with a one inch
overhang below the bottom of a cantilevered floor joist;
[0034] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 7 shown
nailed to the cantilevered floor joist in alignment with the bottom
of the floor joist and supporting a sheet of plywood or wallboard
aligned with a one inch overhang below the bottom of the
cantilevered floor joist;
[0035] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bracket used to support
and align lap board siding;
[0036] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 9
nailed to a wall backing and resting on top of a first lap board to
support and align a second lap board with a one inch overlap of the
first lap board;
[0037] FIG. 11 is a side elevational view in partial section of the
bracket of FIG. 9 nailed to a wall backing and resting on top of a
first lap board and supporting and aligning a second lap board with
a one inch overlap of the first lap board.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0038] In FIGS. 1-11, a construction support and alignment device
comprises a series of brackets 20A-20E for supporting and aligning
vertical wall members for attachment to a building support
structure. The brackets 20A-20E are cut and bent by a stamping
operation from sheet metal to conform to a portion of a support
structure 30, 35 or 70 in a building.
[0039] Each bracket 20A-20E has at least one bracket horizontal
surface 23, 27, 27A or 29 capable of being aligned with a
horizontal surface of the support structure 30, 35, or
[0040] 70. The bracket 20A-20E further comprises at least one
bracket vertical surface 24, 24A, 24B, 24C, or 24D extending from
the horizontal surface 23, 27, 27A or 29, the bracket vertical
surface 24, 24A, 24B, 24C, or 24D capable of being aligned with a
vertical surface of the support structure 30, 35 or 70. Each
bracket 20A-20E also comprises a means for permanently attaching
the bracket 20A-20E to the support structure 30, 35, or 70, the
means being a nail 26 driven through a mounting hole 21 or 22.
[0041] Each bracket 20A-20E further comprises at least one
protruding ledge portion 25 or 25A extending from the bracket
vertical surface 24, 24A, 24B, 24C, or 24D in a fixed relationship
with the bracket horizontal surface 23, 27, 27A or 29. Each bracket
20A-20E is used with at least one additional bracket 20A-20E in
spaced alignment, and preferably three or more brackets depending
on the length and weight of the wallboards. The brackets are
automatically aligned with the support structure when they are
nailed in so that the ledge portions 25 or 25A will support and
align a wall member 50 or 60B to allow the wall member 50 or 60B to
be attached to the support structure 30, 35, or 70. The wall member
50 or 60B is in a fixed alignment with the support structure 30,
35, or 70, determined by the position of the ledge 25 or 25A
relative to the bracket horizontal surface 23, 27, 27A or 29. Each
bracket ledge portion 25 and 25A has the outer corners of the ledge
portion bent up into corner points 19 which bite into the wall
members placed on the ledge portion and assist in securing and
aligning the wall members, especially assisting in preventing
slippage of the wall members relative to the ledge portion.
[0042] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the construction support and alignment
device, the bracket 20A, has a bracket horizontal surface 23 that
extends inwardly from the top of the bracket vertical surface 24
and is capable of resting on top of a mud plate board 30 on a
foundation wall 40 with the bracket vertical surface 24 on an
outside face of the mud plate board 30. A nail 26 through the hole
21 in the bracket horizontal surface 23 and a nail 26 through the
hole 22 in the bracket vertical surface 24 attach the bracket 20A
to the mud plate 35 with automatic alignment of the bracket 20A
with the mud plate 30 and the foundation wall 40, is seen in FIG.
2. A ledge 25 extends from the bottom of the bracket vertical
surface 24 outwardly away from the support structure 30, the ledge
25 aligned with the top of the foundation wall 40 so that the ledge
25 is capable of supporting a wall board 50 which is aligned with
the top of the foundation 40, as seen in FIG. 2.
[0043] In FIGS. 3 and 4, the construction support and alignment
device, the bracket 20B, has a bracket horizontal surface 23
extending inwardly from the top of the bracket vertical surface 24A
which bracket horizontal surface 23 rests on top of a mud plate
board 30 on a foundation wall 40 with the bracket vertical surface
24A on an outside face of the mud plate board 30. A nail 26 through
the hole 21 in the bracket horizontal surface 23 and a nail 26
through the hole 22 in the bracket vertical surface 24A attach the
bracket 20B to the mud plate 35 with automatic alignment of the
bracket 20B with the mud plate 30 and the foundation wall 40, as
seen in FIG. 4. A ledge 25 extends from the bottom of the bracket
vertical surface 24A outwardly away from the support structure, the
mud plate 30, the ledge 25 aligned a set distance below the top of
the foundation wall 40 so that the ledge 25 is capable of
supporting a wall board 50 overhanging the top of the foundation 40
by the set distance, which is preferably one inch, as seen in FIG.
4.
[0044] In FIGS. 5 and 6, the construction support and alignment
device, the bracket 20C, has a bracket horizontal surface 27 which
comprises a tab on each side of a bracket vertical surface 24B cut
from a portion of the rectangular bracket vertical surface 24B and
bent backward at a right angle to the bracket vertical surface 24B.
The tabs of the bracket horizontal surface 27 are aligned with and
contact a bottom surface of a cantilevered floor joist 35 with the
bracket vertical surface 24B on an outside face of the cantilevered
floor joist 35 when the bracket 20C is attached to the floor joist
35 using a nail 26 through the hole 22 in the bracket vertical
surface 24B, as seen in FIG. 6, for automatic alignment of the
bracket 20C with the joist 35. In the same bending operation of
forming the tabs of the bracket horizontal surface 27, a ledge 25A
is formed by a surface contiguous with the tabs of the bracket
horizontal surface 27, the ledge 25A extends at a right angle from
the bracket vertical surface 24B outwardly, away from the support
structure surface 35 in alignment with the bracket horizontal
surface 27, so that the ledge 25A is capable of supporting a wall
board 50 aligned with the bottom surface of the cantilevered floor
joist 35, as seen in FIG. 6.
[0045] In FIGS. 7 and 8, the construction support and alignment
device, the bracket 20D, has a bracket horizontal surface 27A which
comprises a tab on each side of a bracket vertical surface 24C cut
from a portion of the rectangular bracket vertical surface 24C and
bent backward at a right angle to the bracket vertical surface 24C.
The tabs of the bracket horizontal surface 27A extend inwardly from
the top of the bracket vertical surface 24C and align with and
contact a bottom surface of a cantilevered floor joist 35 with the
bracket vertical surface 24C being on an outside face of the
cantilevered floor joist 35, as seen in FIG. 8, the bracket 20D
being automatically aligned with the joist 35. A ledge 25 extends
from the bracket vertical surface 24C outwardly away from the
support structure surface, the joist 35, and below the bracket
horizontal surface 27A a set distance, so that the ledge 25 is
capable of supporting a wall board 50 overhanging the bottom
surface of the cantilevered floor joist 35 by the set distance,
which is preferably one inch, as seen in FIG. 8.
[0046] In FIGS. 9-11, the construction support and alignment
device, the double-L shaped bracket 20E, has a bracket horizontal
surface 29 extending inwardly from the top of a first bracket
vertical surface 28 and is capable of aligning with and contacting
a top surface of a first lap board 60A with the first bracket
vertical surface 28 on an outside face of the first lap board 60A,
as seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, with the bracket 20E automatically
aligned with the lap board 60A. A ledge 25 extends from the first
bracket vertical 28 outwardly away from the support structure
surface, the plywood wall 70, and below the bracket horizontal
surface 29 a set distance, so that the ledge 25 is capable of
supporting a second lap board 60B overhanging the top surface of
the first lap board 60A by the set distance, which is preferably
one inch, as seen in FIGS. 10 and 11. The bracket 20E further
comprises a second bracket vertical surface 24D extending upwardly
from an inner edge of the bracket horizontal surface 29 so that the
second bracket vertical surface 24D rests against a vertical
portion of the support structure, the plywood wall 70, and is
capable of being permanently attached thereto with a nail 26
through the hole 22 in the second vertical surface 24D.
[0047] In practice, a single worker would mount the brackets
20A-20E upon the existing supporting structure 30, 35 or 70. The
brackets 20A-20E would be attached and automatically aligned by a
nail 26 through the nail holes 21 and/or 22 to the supporting
structure 30, 35 or 70, with at least two brackets, and preferably
three or more brackets depending on the length and weight of the
wallboards, aligned and spaced apart to receive the wallboard. The
new wallboard 50, wall panel 50 or lap board 60B which needs to be
erected would then be placed on the ledge 25 or 25A, which would
support and automatically align it. The new wallboard 50, wall
panel 50, or lap board 60B could then be nailed into place. Due to
the inexpensive method of manufacturing, these brackets 20A-20E
could be left in place for a permanent source of support and
alignment.
[0048] It is understood that the preceding description is given
merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the
invention and that various modifications may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.
* * * * *