U.S. patent application number 13/812247 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-23 for temporary support bracket.
The applicant listed for this patent is David McGrath. Invention is credited to David McGrath.
Application Number | 20130125500 13/812247 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42752744 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130125500 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McGrath; David |
May 23, 2013 |
Temporary Support Bracket
Abstract
A bracket (401) provides temporary support for a plasterboard
while said plasterboard is attached to ceiling joists (103,104). A
first limb (402) is secured to a first ceiling joist. A
plasterboard (201) is located upon an upper surface of the second
limb, in which said second limb extends from said first limb via an
angled portion (403). An opposite end of the ceiling board is
secured to a second ceiling joist.
Inventors: |
McGrath; David; (Rotherham,
GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
McGrath; David |
Rotherham |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
42752744 |
Appl. No.: |
13/812247 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
July 25, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2011/001113 |
371 Date: |
January 25, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/741.1 ;
248/205.1; 248/224.8; 72/339 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 21/185 20130101;
E04B 9/245 20130101; B21D 53/36 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/741.1 ;
248/205.1; 248/224.8; 72/339 |
International
Class: |
E04B 9/24 20060101
E04B009/24; B21D 53/36 20060101 B21D053/36 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 26, 2010 |
GB |
1012448.5 |
Claims
1. A temporary support bracket to assist in a process of attaching
boards to ceiling joists, comprising: a first limb for securing to
a first vertical surface of a ceiling joist; an angled portion
extending from said first limb, said angled portion including a
substantially horizontal section and a substantially vertical
section; and a second limb extending from said angled portion, said
second limb comprising a substantially horizontal first portion
whereby said first portion is substantially perpendicular to said
first limb, said second limb further comprising a downward sloping
second portion; wherein an upper surface of said first portion of
said second limb is configured to support a ceiling board and said
substantially horizontal section of said angled portion abuts
against an active surface of a ceiling joist after said first limb
has been secured to said ceiling joist.
2. The support bracket of claim 1, wherein said boards are
plaster-boards.
3. The support bracket of claim 1, wherein said ceiling joists are
constructed from timber.
4. The support bracket of claim 1, wherein said first limb includes
a hole and is securable to a ceiling joist by means of a screw.
5. The support bracket of claim 1, wherein said first limb, said
angled portion and said second limb are fabricated from a singular
metal piece.
6. The support bracket of claim 5, wherein said singular metal
piece is produced by a bending process.
7. The support bracket of claim 6, wherein said bending process is
performed upon a piece of stainless steel sheet.
8. A method of fabricating a temporary support bracket to assist in
a process of attaching boards to ceiling joists, comprising the
steps of: cutting a blank from sheet metal; and bending said blank
to define a first limb for securing to a first vertical surface of
a ceiling joist, an angled portion extending from said first limb
and a second limb extending from said angled portion, said angled
portion including a substantially horizontal section and a
substantially vertical section; and said second limb comprising a
substantially horizontal first portion bent such that said first
portion is substantially perpendicular to said first limb, said
second limb further comprising a downward sloping second portion;
wherein said second limb is configured to support a ceiling board
and said substantially horizontal section of said angled portion
abuts against an active surface of a ceiling joist after said first
limb has been secured to said ceiling joist.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein said blank is a stainless steel
blank.
10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of forming a
hole in said first limb to facilitate attachment to a joist.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein said cutting step is performed
by laser or water jet.
12. A method of providing temporary support for a board, while
attaching said board to a ceiling joist, comprising the steps of:
securing a first limb of a support bracket to a first vertical
surface of a first ceiling joist; locating a first end of a board
upon an upper surface of a substantially horizontal first portion
of a the second limb of the support bracket, in which said second
limb extends from said first limb via an angled portion, said
angled portion including a substantially horizontal section and a
substantially vertical section, and whereby said first portion is
substantially perpendicular to said first limb, said second limb
further comprising a downward sloping portion, such that said
substantially horizontal section of said angled portion abuts
against an active surface of said first ceiling joist; and securing
an opposite second end of said board to a second ceiling joist.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said board is a
plaster-board.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein said first limb includes a hole
and said step of securing said first limb to said first ceiling
joist comprises placing a screw through said hole and screwing said
screw into said first ceiling joist.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein said first ceiling joist and
said second ceiling joist are fabricated from timber.
16. (cancelled)
17. The method of claim 12, wherein; said board covers a right side
of a left ceiling joist and a left side of a right ceiling joist;
said first limb is secured to a selected one of a left side of the
left ceiling joist and a right side of the right ceiling joist; a
corresponding one of a left end and an opposite right end of a
board is supported by said second limb on a corresponding one of
the left ceiling joist and the right ceiling joist; the opposite
one of the left end and the right end of said board is secured to
the other of the left ceiling joist and the right ceiling joist;
said corresponding one of the left end of said board is secured to
the corresponding one of the left ceiling joist and the right
ceiling joist; and said support bracket is removed.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said angled portion includes a
second substantially horizontal portion that extends over a portion
of said selected one of the left ceiling joist and the right
ceiling joist.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the length of said second
substantially horizontal portion is such as to support the end of
said board at a substantially central position upon the selected
ceiling joist.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of locating
a screw substantially vertically through a hole in said second
substantially horizontal portion.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority from United Kingdom
patent application 10 12 448.5, filed Jul. 26, 2010, the whole
contents of which are included herein by way of reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a temporary support bracket
to assist in the process of attaching boards to ceiling joists. The
present o invention also relates to a method of fabricating a
temporary support bracket to assist in the process of attaching
boards to ceiling joists. The present invention also relates to a
method of providing temporary support for a board, while attaching
said board to ceiling joists.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A jig for lifting plasterboard is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,646,996, which comprises three telescopic members that are
supported by a frame and are individually adjustable to elevate a
rack to a selected angular relationship. The jig represents a
substantial piece of equipment and may be deployed in situations
where manual fitting would not be possible. However, in many
applications, it is possible for a board to be supported by one
individual but the actual fixing to ceiling joists becomes
difficult if assistance is not available.
[0006] In situations of this type, it is also known to deploy poles
or supports, but problems may exist in relation to providing
adjustment for different ceiling heights and, for a substantial
investment in terms of equipment, the degree of support is somewhat
limited.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a temporary support bracket to assist in a process of
attaching boards to ceiling joists, comprising: a first limb for
securing to a ceiling joist; an angled portion extending from said
limb; and a second limb extending from said angled portion, wherein
said second limb is configured to support a ceiling board after
said first limb has been secured to a ceiling joist.
[0008] In an embodiment, the first limb includes a hole and is
securable to a ceiling joist by means of a screw.
[0009] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method of fabricating a temporary support bracket to
assist in a process of attaching boards to ceiling joists,
comprising the steps of: cutting a blank from sheet metal; and
bending said blank to define a first limb for securing to a ceiling
joist, an angled portion extending from said first limb and a
second limb extending from said angled portion, wherein said second
limb is configured to support a ceiling board after said first limb
has been secured to a ceiling joist. In an embodiment, the blank is
fabricated from stainless steel.
[0010] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method of providing temporary support for a board,
while attaching said board to a ceiling joist, comprising the steps
of: securing a first limb of a support bracket to a first ceiling
joist; locating a board upon an upper surface of a second limb, in
which said second limb extends from said first limb via an angled
portion; and securing an opposite end of said board to a second
ceiling joist.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a ceiling with joists;
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates the attachment of a ceiling board to the
joist identified in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates the relationship between adjacent
boards;
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a temporary support bracket embodying an
aspect of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a method of fabricating the support
bracket identified in FIG. 4;
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates the attachment of the bracket of FIG. 4
to a joist;
[0017] FIG. 7 shows the securing of the bracket identified in FIG.
6;
[0018] FIG. 8 shows the secured bracket of FIG. 7 supporting a
board;
[0019] FIG. 9 illustrates the permanent attachment of the opposite
end of the board identified in FIG. 8;
[0020] FIG. 10 illustrates the further permanent attachment of the
board shown in FIG. 9;
[0021] FIG. 11 shows the removal of the support bracket; and
[0022] FIG. 12 shows a board attached to joists after the removal
of the bracket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0023] FIG. 1
[0024] A ceiling 101 is shown in FIG. 1, to which boards are to be
secured in order to provide a finished ceiling surface. The boards
will be attached to joists, of which joist 102, joist 103, joist
104 and joist 105 are shown in FIG. 1. In a preferred embodiment,
joists 102 to 105 are fabricated in wood. Furthermore, in an
embodiment, boards to be attached to these joists are
plasterboards, although other types of boards could be deployed,
such as plywood or plastic etc. The boards may be secured to the
joists by means of screws or nails as is known in the art.
[0025] FIG. 2
[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, a first board 201 and a second board 202
have been secured between a first left joist 103 and a second right
joist 104. Joist 103 may be considered to have a primary surface
203. With respect to board 202, joist 103 has an internal surface
204 and an external surface 205.
[0027] From the perspective of the joist 103, the external surface
205 may be considered as a left vertical surface and the internal
surface 204 may be considered as a right vertical surface.
[0028] FIG. 3
[0029] The active surface 203 of joist 103 is illustrated in FIG.
3. Furthermore, board 202 is shown in position, abutting against a
board 301 located between joist 102 and joist 103. As is known in
the art, it is preferable for the line of abutment between boards
202 and 301 to lie substantially centrally along the active surface
203 of joist 103. Thus, when locating a first board, it should be
positioned substantially centrally, thereby providing a
substantially equal space for the abutting board on the other
side.
[0030] Furthermore, as is known in the art, when located, the
boards are held in place by securing elements 302, such as
plasterboard screws. It can therefore be seen that if a first board
is aligned incorrectly, this will have knock-on effects in terms of
its relationship with cooperating boards. Thus, in many
applications, it is theoretically possible for the boards to be
assembled by a single operative but in practice, this can be quite
difficult and may lead to a misalignment. Furthermore, without
appropriate mechanical assistance, health and safety constraints
may demand that the boarding of ceilings as described with respect
to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 requires the deployment of at least two
operatives.
[0031] FIG. 4
[0032] A temporary support bracket 401 is illustrated in FIG. 4,
configured to assist in a process of attaching boards (201, 202) to
ceiling joists (103, 104). A First limb 402 is provided for
securing to a ceiling joist. An angled portion 403 extends from the
first limb 402. A second limb 404 extends from the angled portion
403. The second limb 404 is configured to support a ceiling board
after said first limb has been secured to a ceiling joist.
[0033] In preferred applications, the ceiling boards are
plasterboards and the ceiling joists may be constructed from
wood/timber.
[0034] In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the first limb 402 includes a
hole 405, so as to allow the support bracket 401 to be secured to a
ceiling joist by means of a screw or similar attachment.
[0035] In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the support bracket consisting
of the first limb 402, the angled portion 403 and the second limb
404 are fabricated from a single metal piece and the required shape
may be obtained by a bending process. In an embodiment, the bending
process is performed upon a piece of stainless steel sheet.
[0036] In an alternative embodiment, the support bracket consisting
of the first limb, the angled portion and the second limb are
moulded from a plastics material.
[0037] FIG. 5
[0038] A method for the fabrication of a temporary support bracket
to assist in the process of attaching boards to ceiling joists is
illustrated in FIG. 5. Sheet material 501 is supplied to a cutting
process 502. The cutting process 502 cuts blanks 503 from the sheet
metal 501.
[0039] A bending process 504 bends the blanks 503 to produce the
support brackets (as shown in FIG. 4) which are in turn supplied to
a packaging process 505. The bending process 504 bends each blank
503 to define a first limb for securing to a ceiling joist, an
angled portion extending from said first limb and a second limb
extending from said angled portion. The second limb is configured
to support a ceiling board after said first limb has been secured
to a ceiling joist.
[0040] In an embodiment, the metal sheet material 501 is stainless
steel and stainless steel blanks 503 are cut from said sheet
material 501.
[0041] In an embodiment, a hole is formed in the first limb to
facilitate the attachment to a joist. Furthermore, in a preferred
embodiment, the cutting process 502 is performed by laser cutting
or water jet cutting.
[0042] After distribution and removal from packaging, the temporary
support bracket, as shown in FIG. 4, is ready for providing
temporary support for a board, while attaching said board to a
ceiling joist.
[0043] FIG. 6
[0044] In order to perform the method of providing temporary
support for a board, while attaching said board to a ceiling joist,
the first limb 402 is located against a first vertical surface 204
of a first (left) ceiling joist 103. The angled portion 403 also
abuts against the active surface 203 of the ceiling joist 103.
[0045] FIG. 7
[0046] The angled portion 403 includes a substantially horizontal
section 701 and a substantially vertical section 702. In this way,
the angled portion 403 abuts closely against an edge 703 defined by
vertical surface 204 and active surface 203. With the support
bracket located in place, the first limb 402 of the support bracket
is secured to the first ceiling joist 103. In this example, the
support bracket is secured by the application of a screw 704
through hole 405 and into the joist 103. Alternatively, if access
is limited, it is possible for the bracket to be secured by an
alternative hole (shown as 406 in FIG. 4), located in the
substantially horizontal portion 701.
[0047] FIG. 8
[0048] Having secured the first limb of the support bracket to a
first ceiling joist, a board, such as board 201, is located upon an
upper surface 801 of the second limb 404.
[0049] FIG. 9
[0050] With the board 201 located upon an upper surface of the
second limb, the opposite end 901 of board 201 is secured to a
second ceiling joist 104. Thus, following this step, the opposite
end 901 of the board 201 has been secured to ceiling joist 103 in a
substantially conventional manner.
[0051] FIG. 10
[0052] Having secured the opposite end 901 in a substantially
conventional manner, an operative returns to the supported end of
board 201. This is again secured in a substantially conventional
manner, by means of plasterboard screws, such as screw 1001. Thus,
having completed this process, the board is now secure.
[0053] FIG. 11
[0054] Having secured the board 201, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the
temporary support bracket 401 is removed and having been removed,
it is now ready to be deployed upon the next board, such as board
202.
[0055] FIG. 12
[0056] Having removed the temporary support bracket, as illustrated
in FIG. 11, the board 201 is now held in place between joist 103
and 104. The support bracket 401 may be deployed for the next
operation. Furthermore the deployment may be achieved safely using
a single operative and the preferred alignment of the boards is
retained; as illustrated in FIG. 3.
* * * * *