Abstract:
A multi-sided framing guide includes a stud side with stud pockets, a nail side with nailing windows, and an intermediate side adjoining the stud and nail sides.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a construction tool. In particular, a framing guide provides a means for improved construction, including improved wall construction. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Construction using framing members is an old art. Over hundreds of years, the tools, materials, and methods used for framing structures have improved. Despite these improvements, framing tools used today are little changed from those used hundreds of years ago. The most significant improvements relate primarily to mechanizing a well known tool, such as substituting a nail gun for a hammer and nail. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A framing tool comprises a guide used to align a horizontal framing member with a vertical framing member and to facilitate fastening the members together while maintaining the desired relative alignment. 
         [0006]    In an embodiment, an elongated framing guide has a stud side coupled to an opposed nail side by an intermediate side. The stud side, intermediate side, and nail side form a substantially “n” shaped guide cross section with an elongated slot. The elongated slot is for receiving a horizontal framing member. 
         [0007]    The stud side includes a plurality of pockets for receiving respective ends of vertical framing members and each pocket has three sides formed to position opposing major sides of the vertical framing member about perpendicular to the intermediate side. A leveling device is located between each pair of adjacent pockets and is arranged to indicate a level of the guide. 
         [0008]    The nail side includes a plurality of nailing windows and each nailing window is generally opposed to a respective stud side pocket. 
         [0009]    The intermediate side includes a plurality of insets, each inset located between an adjacent pair of the stud side pockets. Each inset has a surface depressed with respect to the intermediate side and about parallel to the intermediate side and a plurality of the depressed surfaces have respective leveling devices, each leveling device located between an adjacent pair of pockets and arranged to indicate a level of the guide. The intermediate side further includes a plurality of viewing windows, each viewing window for exposing a junction between a vertical framing member and the horizontal framing member. 
         [0010]    The guide is movable along an upper horizontal framing member of arbitrary length for aiding alignment and fixation of vertical framing members with the upper horizontal framing member. In addition, the guide is movable along an associated lower horizontal framing member for aiding alignment and fixation of the vertical framing members with the lower horizontal framing member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying figures. These figures, incorporated herein and forming part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain its principles enabling a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1A  shows a first view of a framing guide in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1B  shows a second view of the framing guide of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0014]      FIG. 1C  shows hinged embodiment of the framing guide of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows another view of the framing guide of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows the framing guide of  FIG. 1A  alongside framing members to be assembled using the guide. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4A  shows a cross-section of a first selected portion of the guide of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0018]      FIG. 4B  shows a cross-section of a second selected portion of the guide of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0019]      FIG. 5A  shows a first flowchart depicting an exemplary method of using the guide of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0020]      FIG. 5B  shows a second flowchart depicting an exemplary method of using the guide of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0021]      FIG. 6A  shows a first construction of a wall section using the guide of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0022]      FIG. 6B  shows a second construction of a wall section using the guide of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  shows placement and leveling of a wall section using the guide of  FIG. 1A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    The disclosure provided in the following pages describes examples of some embodiments of the invention. The designs, figures, and description are non-limiting examples of the embodiments they disclose. For example, other embodiments of the disclosed device and/or method may or may not include the features described herein. Moreover, disclosed advantages and benefits may apply to only certain embodiments of the invention and should not be used to limit the disclosed invention. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1A  shows a first view of a framing guide in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention  100 A.  FIG. 1B  shows a second view of the framing guide  100 B. The first view of the guide shows a guide stud side  121  and a guide intermediate side  122 . A second view of the guide  100 B shows a guide nail side  123  and the guide intermediate side. The guide has a generally “n” shaped cross-section formed by the stud side, intermediate side, and nail side.  FIG. 1C  shows a framing guide embodiment having an articulated joint  100 C. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows an axially rotated view of the guide  200 . In the axially rotated view, the open side of the “n” shaped guide  202  is visible. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows the guide and framing members to be joined  300 . The framing members include a horizontal framing member  302  and a plurality of vertical framing members or studs  304 . 
         [0028]    An orthogonal coordinate system with an origin at a lower, back, left corner of the guide as shown in the first view  100 A places the stud side  121  in a plane parallel to the x-y plane, the nail side  123  in a plane parallel to the x-y plane, the intermediate side  122  in a plane parallel to the x-z plane, and the open side  202  in a plane parallel to the x-z plane. 
         [0029]    Stud pockets  112  are arranged along the stud side  121  of the framing guide. In an embodiment, the framing guide has five stud pockets (as shown). Some embodiments utilize less than five stud pockets while other embodiments utilize more than five stud pockets. Each stud pocket has three sides formed to position opposing major sides of the studs  306 ,  307 . Spacing between the stud pocket centerlines  126 ,  128  is set to create a desired stud spacing S 1  such as 12 inches on center, 18 inches on center, or another desired spacing. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show framing guide cross-sections along a plane parallel to the x-y plane  400 A,  400 B. The stud ends  305  are inserted in the stud pockets  112 . As can be seen in the first view  402 , the framing guide aligns the stud major sides  306 ,  307  about perpendicular to the intermediate side  122 . In contrast, assembly without the framing guide often leads to misaligned studs as shown in the second view  400 B. 
         [0031]    In an embodiment, one or more bubble tube type levels  108  are fixed to the intermediate side  122  between adjacent stud pockets  112  (as shown). These levels lie along a line parallel to the x axis and are referred to as x-z levels. In some embodiments, one or more bubble type levels  110  are fixed to the stud side  121  between adjacent stud pockets  112  (as shown). These levels lie along a line parallel to the x axis and are referred to as x-y levels. 
         [0032]    In an embodiment, adjacent stud pockets  112  are separated by insets  130  (as shown). Here, each inset has a surface  131  depressed with respect to the intermediate side  122  and about parallel to the intermediate side. Where the framing guide material is chosen for properties other than strength and rigidity, such as in the choice of a light weight polymeric or plastic material, the use of insets improves the rigidity of the guide. 
         [0033]    Nailing windows  118  are arranged along the nail side  123  of the framing guide. In an embodiment, the framing guide has five nailing windows (as shown). Nailing windows correspond to stud pockets  112  as further described below. Each nailing window provides an opening into the interior of the framing guide  119  that aligns with a respective stud pocket and stud face  303 . 
         [0034]    An elongated slot  114  along the length of the framing guide is for interengaging a horizontal framing member  302 . One side of the slot is bounded by the framing guide&#39;s nail side  123  and an adjacent side of the slot is bounded by the framing guide&#39;s intermediate side  122 . 
         [0035]    In an embodiment, viewing windows  116  are arranged along the intermediate side of the framing guide. The viewing windows are aligned with the stud pockets  112 . When the framing guide interengages a horizontal framing member  302  and a stud  304 , the corresponding viewing window enables a user to view the junction where the stud meets the horizontal framing member. Visual assessments of these junctions enables a user to assure, among other things, that a stud is fully inserted in a respective stud pocket  112 . 
         [0036]    Some framing guide embodiments provide a hand-hold means to facilitate handling the guide. In one embodiment, a hand hold  106  extends from the intermediate side  122  about midway between the ends of the framing guide. And, some framing guide embodiments provide a hinge  150  (See  FIG. 1B ) coupling the stud and intermediate sides  121 ,  122 , rotation of the stud side with respect to the intermediate side being useful for facilitating sliding the guide along a horizontal framing member. In a hinged embodiment, end walls  152  are separated from the intermediate side by a gap  154  enabling rotation of the end walls and stud side with respect to the intermediate side. 
         [0037]    In various embodiments, the framing guide is made of one or more materials that provide the desired combination of strength, rigidity, light weight, manufacturability, and toughness. Non-metal materials include polymers such as plastics, composites such as carbon composites, and fabric with resin composites such as fiberglass. Metals include ferrous and non-ferrous metals such as steel, aluminum, titanium, and alloys of these metals known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0038]    In operation, the framing guide is used to align a horizontal framing member  302  with a plurality of vertical framing members  304 , and to facilitate fastening the members together. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  show exemplary method flowcharts using the framing guide  500 A,  500 B. The method steps may be in the sequence shown, or in another sequence and fewer than all of the steps may be used in various embodiments. Moreover, other steps may be included as will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 6A ,  6 B show the framing guide in use during wall section construction  600 A,  600 B. View  600 A shows fastening of a bottom horizontal member  622  and view  600 B shows fastening of a top horizontal member  632 .  FIG. 7  shows the framing guide in use during wall section placement  700 . The framing guide  702  is located atop the wall section  703  and levels  108 ,  110  are available for leveling of the wall section. 
         [0041]    In the exemplary sequence of method steps, beginning with step  5 , a wall is constructed using the framing guide  300 . Framing members are selected and cut to length as needed  300 . Continuing with step  10 , the guide elongated slot  114  is interengaged with a bottom horizontal framing member  612 . Continuing with step  15 , vertical framing members are interengaged with respective stud pockets  624 . Continuing with step  20 , fasteners such as nails, screws, staples, or another fastener known to persons of ordinary skill in the art are used to fasten the horizontal member to the vertical members  606  via the nailing windows  118 . Continuing with step  25 , steps  15  and/or  20  are repeated as needed to fasten each vertical framing member to the horizontal framing member. 
         [0042]    Continuing with step  30 , when the studs  304  in the framing guide are fastened to the bottom horizontal member  622 , the framing guide is removed from the fastened framing members and, continuing with step  35 , the framing guide elongated slot is interengaged with a top horizontal framing member. Continuing with step  40 , the opposite ends of the vertical framing members interengaged with respective stud pockets  634 . Continuing with step  45 , fasteners such as nails, screws, staples, or another fastener known to persons of ordinary skill in the art are used to fasten the horizontal member to the vertical members  606  via the nailing windows  118 . Continuing with step  50 , steps  40  and/or  45  are repeated as needed to fasten each vertical framing member to the horizontal framing member. 
         [0043]    Continuing with step  55 , when the studs  304  in the framing guide are fastened to the top horizontal member  632 , the constructed wall  700  is turned up and located in its intended position in a structure. Continuing with step  60 , the leveling devices  108 ,  110  are used to orient the wall with respect to a foundation and/or adjacent structural members. Continuing with step  65 , when the wall is positioned and leveled as desired, the wall is fastened to the foundation and/or adjacent structural members. 
         [0044]    In an embodiment, the framing guide is used to construct a wall section incorporating more studs than can be placed in the framing guide at one time. Here, the framing guide is moved along a horizontal framing member to incorporate additional studs. An exemplary method incorporates additional steps  51 ,  52 , and  53  between steps  50  and  55 . 
         [0045]    After step  45  disengage the guide and slide or move it along the horizontal framing member until a guide end stud pocket can be engaged with a vertical framing member adjacent to where the next framing member will be installed  51 . Engage the guide end stud pocket with the vertical framing member and repeat steps  15 - 45 . If vertical members remain to be installed in the wall, go to step  51 ; otherwise, as directed in step  53 , go to step  55 . 
         [0046]    While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the form and details can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As such, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and equivalents thereof.