Abstract:
The present invention comprises a hand tool for the installation of elongated horizontally overlapping siding on a vertical framework.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to a hand tool of the type used to temporarily clamp together two articles, for example, for gluing, or to hold a workpiece for nailing or welding, and more particularly to a hand tool for the installation and proper spacing of elongated horizontally overlapping siding on a vertical framework having a quick-action bar clamp wherein the moving jaw can be rapidly advanced or advances in small increments of selectable length. The concept of a bar clamp is old and well-known. In recent years, quick-action handgrips have been incorporated for use in final tightening against the workpiece, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,315 by Lee, U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,137 by Sorensen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,722 by Sorensen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,313 by Pearson, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,921 by Wallace. A disadvantage in these previous tools lies in the fact that none of the previous hand tools are capable of acting as a third-hand to assist the installation and proper spacing of elongated horizontally overlapping siding on a vertical framework. 
   The disadvantage of previous siding gauge tools, for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,521 by Rempe and U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,160 by Rempe, lies in the fact that adjustment of the tool either totally absent or cumbersome and imprecise. Further, these gauge tools are not easily nor quickly disengaged, nor are they capable of being operated by a single hand. 
   What is needed therefore, is a hand tool for the installation and proper spacing of elongated horizontally overlapping siding on a vertical framework having a quick-action bar clamp wherein the moving jaw can be rapidly advanced or advances in small increments of selectable length, and is operable using one hand with complete control by the operator at all times. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention comprises a hand tool for the installation of elongated horizontally overlapping siding on a vertical framework, the siding having a top edge portion, a bottom edge portion, an interior face and an exterior face, the hand tool comprising: a stationary jaw; a movable jaw opposing the stationary jaw, the movable jaw having an interior jaw face and an exterior jaw face, the interior jaw face having a horizontal plate carried thereon, the exterior jaw face being substantially flat; a slide bar, having a first bar end and a second bar end with a portion therebetween, the movable jaw being carried on the first bar end, the slide bar being movable to bring the movable jaw toward and away from the stationary jaw; a housing, having an upper portion, a middle portion and a lower portion, the stationary jaw being carried on the upper portion of the housing, the middle portion having a channel formed therein for slidably receiving and supporting the slide bar, the lower portion having a handgrip; an adjustable arm carried on the upper portion of the housing adjacent the stationary jaw, for adjustably aligning an uninstalled siding piece about an installed siding piece; an adjustable stop member carried on one end of the adjustable arm, for supporting the uninstalled siding piece and preventing the uninstalled siding piece from sliding out of alignment with the installed siding piece; a single direction drive system having an advancement handle pivotably mounted to the housing in engageable contact with the drive system for releasably engaging the slide bar and when engaged, for advancing the slide bar and carried movable jaw toward the stationary jaw; and a retention system having a retention handle extending outwardly from the housing forwardly of the advancement handle for releasably disengaging, the retention slide bar normally engaging the slide bar, and when engaged preventing motion of the movable jaw away from the stationary jaw, and when disengaged, permitting motion of the movable jaw away from the stationary jaw, wherein the hand tool is grippable about the handgrip, the advancement handle and retention handle being selectively operable by the same hand, permitting a single person to manipulate long pieces of uninstalled vertical siding and properly position the long pieces of uninstalled siding relative to an installed piece of siding. 
   The present invention further comprises a method for manufacturing a hand tool for the installation of elongated horizontally overlapping siding on a vertical framework, the siding having a top edge portion, a bottom edge portion, an interior face and an exterior face, the hand tool comprising: providing a stationary jaw; providing a movable jaw opposing the stationary jaw, the movable jaw having an interior jaw face and an exterior jaw face, the interior jaw face having a horizontal plate carried thereon, the exterior jaw face being substantially flat; providing a slide bar, having a first bar end and a second bar end with a portion therebetween, the movable jaw being carried on the first bar end, the [slide] bar being movable to bring the movable jaw toward and away from the stationary jaw; providing a housing, having an upper portion, a middle portion and a lower portion, the stationary jaw being carried on the upper portion of the housing, the middle portion having a channel formed therein for slidably receiving and supporting the slide bar, the lower portion having a handgrip; providing an adjustable arm carried on the upper portion of the housing adjacent the stationary jaw, for adjustably aligning an uninstalled siding piece about an installed siding piece; providing an adjustable stop member carried on one end of the adjustable arm, for supporting the uninstalled siding piece and preventing the uninstalled siding piece from sliding out of alignment with the installed siding piece; a single direction drive system having an advancement handle pivotably mounted to the housing in engageable contact with the drive system for releasably engaging the slide bar and when engaged, for advancing the slide bar and carried movable jaw toward the stationary jaw; and providing a retention system having a retention handle extending outwardly from the housing forwardly of the advancement handle for releasably disengaging, the retention slide bar normally engaging the slide bar, and when engaged preventing motion of the movable jaw away from the stationary jaw, and when disengaged, permitting motion of the movable jaw away from the stationary jaw, wherein the hand tool is grippable about the handgrip, the advancement handle and retention handle being selectively operable by the same hand, permitting a single person to manipulate long pieces of uninstalled vertical siding and properly position the long pieces of uninstalled siding relative to an installed piece of siding. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a hand tool for the installation and proper spacing of elongated horizontally overlapping siding on a vertical framework having a quick-action bar clamp wherein the moving jaw can be rapidly advanced or advances in small increments of selectable length, in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partially exploded view illustrating the hand tool of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the attachment of adjustable arm and stop members and illustrating alternative embodiments for the configuration of the movable jaw, in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view illustrating the hand tool of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the hand tool for the installation and proper spacing of elongated horizontally overlapping siding on a vertical framework having a quick-action bar clamp wherein the moving jaw can be rapidly advanced or advances in small increments of selectable length, in accordance with the invention; and 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference to the Drawings wherein like number indicate like elements, a hand tool shown generally at  10 , includes a movable jaw  12  connected to a slide bar  14 . The slide bar is slidably supported in a channel that passes through a housing assembly  16 . 
   The movable jaw  12  opposes the stationary jaw  18 , and has an interior face  20  and an exterior face  22 . The interior face  20  of the movable jaw  12  carries a horizontal plate  24  for receiving and supporting a bottom edge portion of a siding piece to be clamped. 
   Slide bar  14  has a first bar end and a second bar end, with a bar portion therebetween. The movable jaw  12  is carried on the first bar end, the slide bar being movable to bring the movable jaw toward and away from the stationary jaw. 
   The housing assembly  16  includes an upper portion, a middle portion, and a lower portion. The stationary jaw  18  is carried on the upper portion of the housing assembly  16  opposing the moveable jaw  12 . A channel is carried within the middle portion of the housing assembly  16  for slidably receiving and supporting the slide bar  14 . The lower portion of the housing assembly  16  carries the handgrip  26 . 
   The upper portion of the housing assembly  16  further carries an adjustable arm  28  adjacent the stationary jaw  18  for adjustably aligning and properly spacing an uninstalled siding piece about an installed siding piece. Arm  28  is preferably adjustable about at least one arm end with respect to the housing assembly. Arm  28  is adjustable vertically and angularly, allowing the tool variable sizing depending upon the height, thickness, and spacing requirements of the particular siding to be installed. 
   In an embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 1-3  the arm  28  maybe slotted and is adjustably secured to the housing assembly via a fastener assembly. In this embodiment illustrated the fastener assembly comprises a set screw  30  and a threaded knob  32 . To adjust the arm  28  the threaded knob  32  is rotated counterclockwise to reduce the frictional grip on the set screw  30  and knob  32  against the arm  28 . The arm  28  is then free to move, both vertically and angularly, and may be adjusted to its desired position. To secure the arm  28  in its desired position the threaded knob  32  is rotated clockwise to increase the frictional grip of the set screw  30  and knob  32  against the arm  28 , thereby adjustably securing the arm  28  to the housing assembly  16 . 
   In an embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the arm  28  is detented and is adjustably secured to the housing assembly via a spring fastener  34 . In this embodiment the fastener assembly comprises a spring loaded tab configured to be received within corresponding detents  36  in the arm  28 . Normally, the spring fastener  34  is loaded to secure the tab within a corresponding arm detent  36  to adjustably secure the arm  28  to the housing assembly  16 . To adjust the arm  28  the spring load on the tab must be overcome by pulling the tab head  38  away from the arm  28 . This action pulls the tab from its corresponding detent  36  and allows the arm  28  to move vertically among the arm detents, and angularly about the housing assembly  16 . To resecure the arm  28  to the housing assembly  16  the pull force on the tab head  38  is released, and the biased spring force forces the tab into the desired corresponding detent  36 . 
   In either embodiment arm  28  may be graduated, or ruled, in a variety of standard or metric units of measurement, such as inches, centimeters, or millimeters. 
   Adjustable stop member  40  is carried on one end of the adjustable arm  28  for receiving and supporting the bottom edge portion of the uninstalled siding piece. Adjustable stop member  40  prevents the uninstalled siding piece from sliding out of alignment with the installed siding piece. Adjustable stop member  40  preferably pivots about pivot point  41  from zero to ninety degrees. 
   The single direction drive system comprises advancement handle  42  pivotably mounted to the housing assembly  16  in engageable contact with the drive system for releasably engaging the slide bar  14  and when engaged, for advancing the slide bar and carried movable jaw  12  toward the stationary jaw  18 . 
   In the embodiment illustrated the advancement handle is activated to engage the drive system by the rearward depression of the advancement handle by the hand or finger of a user. 
   The retention system comprises a retention handle  44  preferably extending outward from the housing forwardly of the advancement handle  42 . The retention handle  44  normally frictionally engages the slide bar  14  preventing the slide bar  14  and movable jaw  12  from moving away from the stationary jaw  18 . 
   In the embodiments illustrated, the retention handle  44  is disengaged from frictionally gripping the slide bar  14  by activating the retention handle  44 . Typical activation is the rearward depressing of the retention handle  44  by the hand or finger (not shown) of a user. When the retention handle  44  is disengaged, the slide bar  14  and carried movable jaw  12  are permitted to move away from the stationary jaw  18 . 
   The hand tool constructed in accordance with the present invention is grippable by the hand of a user about the handgrip  26 , with the advancement handle  42  and retention handle  44  being selectively operable by the same user hand. 
   The hand tool constructed in accordance with the present invention permits a single person to manipulate long pieces of uninstalled horizontal siding and properly position and space the long pieces of uninstalled siding relative to an installed piece of siding. Horizontal siding pieces can be in lengths as long as twelve feet or more. The length and weight of these typical pieces means that it is extremely difficult to nearly impossible for a single person to handle, properly position, properly space and properly fasten horizontal overlapping siding pieces to a vertical framework. 
   The stationary jaw  18  and movable jaw  12  frictionally grip, or clamp, an installed siding piece. The stationary jaw  18  receives the exterior face of the installed siding piece, while the movable jaw  12  receives the interior face of the installed siding piece, and the moveable jaw plate  24  receives the bottom edge portion of the installed siding piece. The adjustable arm  28  is capable of two adjustments. The first, is an angular adjustment to account for the reducing taper of the exterior siding face. The second adjustment, is one of vertical adjustment to account for the width of the siding piece. The adjustable arm  28  positions adjustable stop member  40  in proper positional alignment, both angularly and vertically, to receive and support a bottom edge portion of an uninstalled siding piece for gluing, nailing or welding in place. Multiple hand tools of the present invention may be used in a series along the span of a vertical frame work acting as a clamp, a spacing and alignment tool, and as a third hand to permit a single person to handle, properly position, properly space and properly fasten horizontal overlapping siding pieces to a vertical framework. 
   The drive system comprises a driving lever  46  suspended on the slide bar  14  which passes through a hole in the driving lever  46 . A spring  48  is compressed between the driving lever  46  and a surface of the housing cavity urging the driving lever  46  against the upper end of the advancement handle  42 . The upper end of the advancement handle  42  and straddles the slide bar  14 . Force of the spring  48  urges the advancement handle  42  against an inner surface of the housing  16  thus providing a normal condition. In the normal condition, the driving lever  46  is positioned perpendicular to the direction of motion, indicated by the arrow  50 , of the slide bar  14  when in operation. Any motion of the advancement handle  42  about the pivot pin  52  in the direction of the arrow  50  is accomplished against the bias of the spring  48 . 
   The retention system comprises a braking lever  44  suspended from the slide bar  14  which passes through an opening in the braking lever  44 . One end of the braking lever  44  is pivotably captured within the housing  16  such that the braking lever  44  may pivot within constraints defined by the surfaces of the housing  16  and by binding of the braking lever  44  with the slide bar  14  when the edges of the opening in the lever  44  engage the surface of the slide bar  14 . A brake spring in the housing  16  biases the free end of the braking lever  44  away from the advancement handle  42 . The biased position of the braking lever  44  is limited by the binding interference between the opening of the lever  44  with the slide bar  14 . 
   It should be noted that in the normal position illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the driving lever  46  is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slide bar  14 , whereas the portion of the braking lever  44  which engages the slide bar  14  is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the bar  14  but not perpendicular thereto. In this condition, if a force is applied to the movable jaw  12  in the direction indicated by the arrow  50 , the slide bar  14  is free to move through the hole in the driving lever  46  and through the spring  48 . Because the braking lever  44  is free to pivot against the bias of the spring  48  when force is applied on the movable jaw  12  in the direction of the arrow  50 , the braking lever  44  presents no obstacle to this motion of the slide bar and the movable jaw  12  may be advanced continuously toward the stationary jaw  18 . 
   However, in the normal position as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , if a force is applied to the movable jaw  12  in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow  50 , the edges of the opening in the brake lever  44  bind against the surface of the slide bar  14  and it is not possible, without further action, to withdraw the movable jaw  12  farther away from the stationary jaw  18 . Compression of the brake spring by pressing on the braking lever  44  in the direction of the arrow  50 , allows withdrawal of the slide bar  14  and movable jaw  12  away from the stationary jaw  18 . This force brings the end of the brake lever  44  into perpendicularity with the direction of intended motion of the slide bar  14 . Then the slide bar  14  is free to slide in either direction through the opening in the braking lever  44 . 
   The advancement handle  42  is squeezed in the direction indicated by the arrow  50  to incrementally advance the slide bar  14  with its attached movable jaw  12  toward the stationary jaw  18 . When the advancement handle  42  is squeezed between a user&#39;s hand (not shown) and the handgrip  26 , pivoting occurs about the pivot pin  52  and the end of the advancement handle  42  moves in the direction of the arrow  50 . This causes the driving lever  46  to pivot about its upper end, so that the driving lever  46  is no longer perpendicular to the direction  50  of intended motion of the slide bar  14 . Pivoting the driving lever  46  compresses the spring  48  and also causes the edges of the hole through the driving lever  46  to bind against the surface of the slide rod  14 . Binding occurs because the driving lever  46  is no longer perpendicular to the direction  50  of intended motion of the slide bar  14 . Further motion of the advancement handle  42  causes the driving lever  46  to translate in the direction of the arrow  50 . This motion further compresses the spring  48  and in the process, by means of the binding interference between the lever  46  and slide bar  14 , advances the slide bar  14  and its connected movable jaw  12  toward the stationary jaw  18 . The maximum distance of advance of the movable jaw  12  with one stroke of the advancement handle  42  is limited when the spring  48  is fully compressed or, in an alternative construction, the handle  42  strikes the inner surface of the handgrip  26 . 
   However, the stroke of the advancement handle  42  can be through any lesser arc, thereby diminishing the distance the movable jaw  12  travels in a single stroke in proportion to the angle of the advancement handle stroke. Additional strokes may be applied to the advancement handle  42  of any magnitude until the jaws  12 ,  18  come together, or a siding piece is firmly gripped between them. 
   After the advancement handle  42  is fully pivoted in the direction of the arrow  50  about the pivot pin  52 , release of the advancement handle  42  causes the return of the advancement handle  42 , driving lever  46  and spring  48  to the position shown in  FIG. 3  as a result of the compressive forces in the spring  48  urging the components toward the movable jaw  12 . 
   A transverse pin  54  passing through the free end of the slide bar  14  prevents withdrawal of the slide bar  14  from the slot when the braking lever  44  is pressed in the direction of the arrow  50  and the movable jaw  12  is manually drawn away from the stationary jaw  18 . It should be noted that operation of the advancement handle  42  is ineffective in accomplishing any motion of the slide bar  14  in the direction opposite to the arrow  50 . 
   Protective pads  56  may be attached to the jaws  12 ,  18  to prevent marring of the exterior siding faces. In the illustrated embodiments in accordance with the invention, the slide bar  14  has a rectangular cross-section. In alternative embodiments in accordance with the invention, the slide bar  14  may be any shape, for examples, square, round, triangular, and the openings in the levers  44 ,  46 , respectively are appropriately shaped for proper binding interference with the slide bar  14 . 
   In summary, if it is considered that a siding piece is to be clamped between the jaws  12 ,  18 , the movable jaw  12  can be advanced toward the stationary jaw  18  either in one continuous motion, merely by pushing in the direction of the arrow  50  on the movable jaw  12  or, by operating the advancement handle  42  in a series of strokes of length to be determined by the user. Large strokes may be used at first and small strokes later as the desired pressure is applied to the siding piece. During this advancing operation, the braking lever  44  prevents any backward motion of the slide bar  14  after each advance has been completed. While the braking lever  44  holds the bar  14 , the advancement handle  42  is released. The spring  48  then returns the advancement handle  42  and driving lever  46  to the positions shown in  FIG. 3 , ready for another stroke. At any time when the user desires to retract the movable jaw  12  away from the stationary jaw  18 , for example, to release a siding piece or to open the tool to receive a siding piece, it is only necessary to pull on the movable jaw  12  in the direction opposite to the arrow  50  while simultaneously compressing the brake spring by pressing on the braking lever  44  in the direction of the arrow  50 . 
   It should be noted that all operations of the advancement handle  42  and braking lever  44  can be accomplished with the same hand while holding the hand tool  10  with that hand. Either the index or middle finger is in position to actuate the braking lever  44  as required while the other fingers encircle and contain the advancement handle  42  and handgrip  26 . 
   While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made to the hand tool constructed in accordance with the invention that permits a single person to manipulate long pieces of uninstalled horizontal siding and properly position and space the long pieces of uninstalled siding relative to an installed piece of siding, its parts, and methods of manufacture, without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.