Abstract:
Apparatus for supporting an object for attachment to a substantially vertical surface. The apparatus comprises at least two elongate columns having a plurality of apertures. The columns are securable in parallel, spaced apart relation to the surface. Support members are insertable through the apertures of each of the columns, the support members being operable to receive and support the object for attachment to the surface between the columns and the surface. The apparatus finds particular application in supporting siding for installation on a building. The apparatus allows for a single worker to perform the installation and is capable of reliably handling newer, heavier fiber-cement composite material siding. The apparatus also finds application in the installation of drywall panels. The apparatus can also be used as a modular shelving system.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of prior application Ser. No. 11/154,411 filed on Jun. 15, 2005 which claims priority to prior provisional application Ser. No. 60/600,361 filed Aug. 11, 2004 both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0003]     The present application relates to an apparatus for supporting an object, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for supporting a construction element such as a drywall panel or a siding member for application to a mounting surface. The apparatus of the present invention also finds use as a free-standing or hanging shelving unit.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Siding is typically applied to a building for the purposes of protecting the building from the environment as well as for aesthetic reasons. Many types of siding are provided in the form of sheets or strips that must be secured to the exterior surface of the building, typically by lapping successively higher sheets or strips above corresponding lower sheets or strips. Newer types of siding have been introduces comprised of a fiber-cement composite material. These fiber-cement siding elements are typically heavier than traditional wood or vinyl siding elements.  
         [0006]     In the case of drywall panels, the panels are generally applied to the exterior of an internal open frame structure (often formed from wooden members) to quickly establish walls and ceilings.  
         [0007]     Traditionally two installation workers have been required to position siding, boards, panels, or the like, on a building. One installer secures one end while the other levels to the first secure fixing. This process is repeated for each successive level or layer. Subsequent differential levels or layers of siding are determined and achieved through use of a level and rule. The use of two installation workers is both more inefficient and more expensive than using a single installation worker. The traditional process also requires that the position of each siding element be measured individually. This repetitive measuring is time consuming.  
         [0008]     A similar situation arises in the installation of drywall panels. While drywalling does not generally involve the same attention to measuring and aligning, it often requires lifting and holding in place by one worker as another worker fastens the panel to the underlying frame structure.  
         [0009]     In order to reduce inefficient use of manpower, various tools have been developed which allow a single installer to install a sheet of siding. Various other tools have also been designed which allow the support of multiple siding elements for attachment to the building. However, for various reasons, these tools have not gained widespread acceptance.  
         [0010]     Some devices have been developed which support a siding element from a previously applied siding element. Examples of such devices may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,149 to Meyer; U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,392 to Defino et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,192 to Partin; U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,029 to Matthews; U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,714 to Kelly, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,434,853 to Pyburn; U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,767 to Colavito; U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,377 to Van Der Meer; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,100 to Wheeler. These devices remove the need for a second installer but still requires the individual installer to return to the device in order to remove and reposition the device for each subsequent board.  
         [0011]     Other tools have been developed which are limited by their requirement to either clamp to, abut to, or affix to existing boards, studs or panels that have already been fixed in position Examples of such devices may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,021 to Nadal et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,311 to Paquin; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,175 to Stiles. These devices still require the individual installer to return to the device in order to remove and reposition the device for each subsequent board.  
         [0012]     Several devices have been developed which permit multiple siding panels to be positioned with a single application of the device. Examples of such devices may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,909 to Singleterry; U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,669 to Jacobsen and U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,459 to Taggart. The Taggart device affixes the supporting column to the building where the device remains, even after construction. This device is therefore wasteful as it is only intended to be used one time.  
         [0013]     Many of these devices are also not readily adaptable for use with siding elements of varying widths or with heavier siding elements. For example, Singleterry includes fixed support surfaces and does not therefore permit the use with siding elements of differing widths. In addition, although Jacobsen allows for the siding supports to be adjusted, such adjustment is achieved with slots and thumbscrews. Such a method of adjustment suffers from the necessity and difficulties of accurate measurement when adjusting so as to ensure correct siding placement.  
         [0014]     The device of Jacobsen which relies on thumbscrews to position the siding supports is not a secure support for heavier siding elements such as fiber-cement boards. The device of Jacobsen also requires an established board in order to be utilized. This device is held in place only by friction behind a first siding board which prevents its use for supporting heavy siding elements such as fiber-cement boards.  
         [0015]     What is desirable is a method and apparatus for supporting construction elements such as siding or drywall panels for application to a building or other surface. The method and apparatus would preferably permit installation of the construction elements by a single user. The method and apparatus would desirably have the ability to support multiple siding elements and have the ability to support heavier siding elements such as fiber-cement siding. The apparatus would also be desirably useful as a modular shelving system.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     Accordingly, the present invention provides apparatus for supporting an object for attachment to a substantially vertical surface, the apparatus comprising: 
        at least two elongate columns having a plurality of apertures, said columns being securable in parallel spaced apart relation to the surface; and     support members passable through said apertures of each of said columns, said support members being operable to receive and support said object for attachment to the surface between said columns and the surface.        
 
         [0019]     The present invention also provides apparatus for supporting siding for attachment to a substantially vertical surface, the apparatus comprising an elongate column being securable in parallel spaced apart relation to the surface, the column having a plurality of apertures for receiving a support member for supporting the siding.  
         [0020]     The present invention also provides apparatus for supporting objects, the apparatus comprising an elongate column, the column having two opposed walls, each of said two opposed walls having a plurality of corresponding apertures for receiving a support member therethrough.  
         [0021]     In a further aspect, the present invention provides apparatus for supporting siding for attachment to a substantially vertical surface, the apparatus comprising: 
        at least two elongate columns, each column having two opposed walls, each of said two opposed walls having a plurality of corresponding apertures therethrough; and     at least two support members receivable in said apertures.        
 
         [0024]     The present invention also provides a modular shelving system comprising: 
        at least two elongates columns, each column having two opposed walls, each of said two opposed walls having a plurality of corresponding apertures;     an elongate bar extending between said at least two columns receivable in said apertures; and     at least one support plate pivotally fixed on said elongate bar.        
 
         [0028]     In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of attaching siding to a substantially vertical surface, the method comprising: 
        securing at least two elongate supports in parallel spaced apart relation to the surface, said elongate channels having a plurality of apertures;     passing a support pin through an apertures of each of said elongate supports; and     locating a siding element for attachment to the surface on said support pins between said elongate supports and the surface.        
 
         [0032]     In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a method of attaching a sheet of material to a substantially vertical surface, the method comprising: 
        securing at least one elongate support adjacent to the substantially vertical surface, the elongate support having a base to permit pivoting of the elongate support between a generally horizontal position and a generally vertical position, said elongate support defining a support surface for the sheet of material;     loading the sheet of material onto the support surface when in the generally horizontal position;     pivoting the elongate support to the generally vertical position to position the sheet of material adjacent the substantially vertical surface; and     attaching the sheet of material to the substantially vertical surface.        
 
         [0037]     Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0038]     In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention,  
         [0039]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention for supporting siding elements for securement to a surface;  
         [0040]      FIG. 2  is a detailed perspective view of the column of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0041]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of a sheet of material used to form the column of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0042]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a footing or bottom plate for use with the column of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0043]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a pivotable footing or bottom plate for use with the column of  FIG. 1 ;.  
         [0044]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a pin for connecting consecutively nested columns of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0045]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of shelving brackets for use with the column of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0046]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of shelving brackets for use with the column of  FIG. 1  showing securing upturned portions; and  
         [0047]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are schematic views showing an embodiment of the present invention being used to install drywall panels.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0048]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention for supporting siding elements  6  adjacent to a surface  8  is shown generally at  10 . The apparatus comprises an elongate column  20  and a plurality of support members  60 . The elongate column  20  includes a plurality apertures  22  through which the support members  60  extend for supporting the siding elements  6  between the column  20  and the surface  8 . The column may be located relative to the surface and secured thereto by passing a spike  24  or other suitable fastener through a fastener aperture  26  at a top distal end  28  of the column  20 .  
         [0049]     Now turning to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a detailed perspective view of the elongate column  20 . The elongate column according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises an extended member having first, second and third sides,  30 ,  32  and  34 , respectively. First and second sides  30  and  32  each include a free distal edge  36  and  38 , respectively, and are connected to each other by the third side  34 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the first, second and third sides  30 ,  32  and  34  may form a c-shaped channel defining an interior region  40  and having an opening indicated generally at  42 . The first and second sides  30  and  32  may be parallel to each other where the interior region  40  may be rectangular or square in cross-section.  
         [0050]     First and second sides  30  and  32  each include a plurality of apertures  22  adapted to receive support members  60 . The apertures  22  on the first and second sides  30  and  32  may be arranged to align with each other such that a single support member  60  may be passed through a pair of corresponding apertures  22  at a right angle to the column  20 . The third side  34  of the column may also include apertures  22  that are arranged in planar alignment with corresponding apertures  22  of the first and second sides  30  and  32 .  
         [0051]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the apertures  22  may be a substantially square shape. It will be appreciated that other shapes may also be used such as, for example, rectangular, circular, triangular or any other suitable shape. The apertures  22  may be regularly spaced along the length of the column  20  at distances corresponding to commonly used spacing for siding. For example, the apertures  22  may be spaced along the column at intervals of one inch between centers of adjacent apertures.  
         [0052]     The column  20  may be formed from a sheet of material  12  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The sheet of material is an elongated rectangular sheet of material that may have apertures  22  stamped or cut out in a regular array. The sheet material may be a sheet metal, although it will be appreciated that the sheet may be formed from other materials such as, for example plastic for use with lighter types of siding. The sheet of material  12  generally consists of first second and third rectangular regions  14 , 16  and  18 , respectively, extending the length thereof. The first second and third regions  14 , 16  and  18  are defined by boundaries  15  and  17  as shown. The sheet of material  12  may be bent or folded along the boundaries  15  and  17  such that first, second and third regions  14 , 16  and  18 , respectively, of the sheet  12  form first, second and third sides  30 ,  32  and  34 , respectively of the column. It will also be appreciated that first, second and third sides  30 ,  32  and  34  of the column may be formed separately and connected to each other, for example by welding.  
         [0053]     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the support members  60  comprise an elongate bar adapted to be received through the apertures  22  of the column  20 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the support members  60  may include a square cross section corresponding to the shape of the aperture  22 . It will be appreciated, however, that other cross-sectional shapes of support members  60  will be appropriate for different shapes of the apertures  22 .  
         [0054]     As previously described, the column  20  may be located and secured in parallel, spaced-apart relation to a surface  8  by passing a spike or other suitable fastener  24  through fastener apertures  26 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the column may be oriented such that opening  42  is oriented parallel to the surface  8  wherein second side  32  is positioned adjacent and parallel to the surface. In this orientation, the spike  24  will pass through the fastener apertures  26  of both the fastener apertures  26  of the first and second sides  30  and  32 . Passing the spike  24  through a pair of spaced apart fastener apertures in the column  20  serves to limit rotation of the column relative to the surface and maintain the column in a parallel spaced-apart relation to the surface. In addition, when in this orientation, the support members  60  will pass through the corresponding apertures  22  of the first and second sides  30  and  32  of the column  20 . Passing the support members  60  through a pair of spaced apart apertures in the column serves to prevent rotation of the support members when a load of a siding element is applied to them.  
         [0055]     Now referring to  FIG. 4 , a footing or bottom plate  70  for use with the column  20  is illustrated. The bottom plate  70  may comprise a plate portion  72  and a stand portion  74 . The plate portion  72  comprises a substantially flat plate affixed to the proximate end  78  of the stand portion  74 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the plate portion  72  has a substantially square shape, although it will be appreciated that other shapes will be useful as well. The plate portion also includes bolt holes  80  through which bolts  82  or other suitable fasteners may be passed for securing the bottom plate  70  to a floor or other surface.  
         [0056]     The stand portion  74  comprises an elongate member having a free distal end  76  and a proximate end  78  normally affixed to the plate portion  72 . Stand portion  74  is adapted to be received within the interior region  40  of the column. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the stand portion  74  has a square cross section to correspond to the interior region  40  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . It will be appreciated that for different shapes of interior regions, different shapes of stand portions will be appropriate. The stand portion  74  also includes a plurality of connecting holes  84  through which a pin  86  may be passed. The pin  86  may also pass through the apertures  22  of the column  20  so as to affix the stand portion  74  to the column.  
         [0057]     Now referring to  FIG. 5 , an alternative pivotable embodiment  90  of the footing or bottom plate is shown. The pivotable bottom plate  90  comprises a plate portion  72  and a pair of spaced, parallel uprights  92 . The uprights  92  each include a bore  94  through which a pin  96  may be passed. The pin  96  may also pass through the bottom most apertures of the column so as to pivotally connect the column to the plate. Pivotable bottom plate  90  finds particular application in an arrangement of the column structure  20  that is useful for positioning and installing sheet material, such as drywall panels, to a surface as will be described in more detail below in conjunction with  FIGS. 9A and 9B .  
         [0058]     It will be appreciated that the footings or bottom plates described herein may also be used as top plates for securing the column to an upper surface, such as a ceiling, with the top plate anchored to the upper surface, and the column suspended below the top plate for pivotal movement about pin  96 .  
         [0059]     Now referring to  FIG. 6 , first and second nested columns  20  and  110  are shown connected by a connecting pin  100 . The second column  110  may be sized such that it is receivable within the interior region  40  of the first column such that the apertures  112  of the second column align with the apertures  22  of the first column  20 . The connecting pin  100  may thereafter be passed through the aligned apertures so as to connect the first and second columns  20  and  110 , respectively. The connection illustrated in  FIG. 6  may facilitate the creation of longer lengths of column from shorter standardized lengths for use on higher surfaces. The connecting pin  100  may also include a cotter pin  102  at a distal end  104  and a flanged surface  106  at a proximate end  108  so as to retain the pin through all of the apertures. It will be appreciated that the pins  86  and  96  as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , respectively, may also include these features.  
         [0060]     Now referring to  FIG. 7 , an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in which the column  20  may be used as a modular shelving system. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the shelving system may include an intermediate shelving element  120  or a shelving bracket  140 . Boards or other shelving surfaces, such as glass pieces, (not shown) may then be placed upon the intermediate shelving element  120  or shelving bracket  140 . The intermediate shelving element  120  comprises a spanning bar  122  and a shelving plate  124 . Spanning bar  122  comprises an elongate bar that extends between a first and second column between which the shelf is supported extend. Shelving plate  124  comprises a surface to provide additional lateral support to the shelving surface and to provide a location for anchoring of the shelving surface as described in more detail below. The spanning bar  122  has a cross section adapted to correspond to the opening shape of the apertures  22  of the columns  20 .  
         [0061]     The shelving plate  124  comprises a substantially flat upper plate  126  and a sleeve portion  128 . The sleeve portion has an internal opening having a cross section corresponding to the spanning bar  122  so as to be slidably received thereon. The sleeve portion  128  is furthermore rotationally fixed relative to the spanning par  122  to as to prevent rotation of the spanning bar. Upper plate  126  is secured to and above the sleeve portion  128  and thereby forms a flat upper surface on which shelves or other objects may be placed. The upper plate  126  may also include holes  130  through which fasteners may be passed to secure selves or other object to the upper plate. It will be appreciated that the holes  130  may be threaded so as to enable bolts connected to an object to be secured to the upper plate to be secured in to.  
         [0062]     The shelving bracket  140  comprises a cantilevered member  142  and an angled member  144  each connected to each other at a distal end  146  thereof. The cantilevered member  142  and angled member  144  may be formed of a continuous element wherein the element is bent to form the distal end  146 . The cantilevered member  142  and angled member may also be formed of two separate elements and joined or fastened to each other at the distal end  146 , for example by welding. The cantilevered member  142  and the angled members each include a proximate end  152  and  154  respectively which may be received in the apertures  22  of the column. The cantilevered member includes and upper support surface  148  for receiving a shelf or other supported object. The cantilevered member and angled member may each also include an upturned portion  150  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the shelving bracket may have a cross section corresponding to the shape of the apertures  22 .  
         [0063]     The modular shelving system as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8  may also include either of the bottom or top plates or both in accordance with the preceding description as well as a connecting pin to connect successive nested columns. In other words, columns  20  supporting shelf surfaces may be mounted to the floor via a bottom plate or may be suspended from the ceiling. For the most secure and stable arrangement, columns  20  can extend between a lower floor surface and an upper ceiling surface with both ends of the columns being anchored by plates. The modular shelving system may also be used with the pivotable plates shown in  FIG. 5  to permit the columns to be anchored to a non-horizontal top or bottom surface while maintaining a generally vertical orientation of the columns.  
         [0064]     It will be appreciated that the shelving bracket  140  and the intermediate shelving element  120  may also be utilized with the column for supporting siding for attachment to a surface. In this use, the shelving bracket  140  and the intermediate shelving element  120  may be used to either support siding materials or to provide a surface for an installation worker to stand.  
         [0000]     Operation  
         [0065]     In use as a tool for putting up siding, the apparatus is aligned with the building surface  8  to be covered and a fastener  24 , such as a spike, is passed through the fastener apertures  26  of a top distal portion of column  20  into surface  8  such that the column is suspended in parallel, space apart relation out from surface  8 . As best shown in  FIG. 1 , support members  60  are then positioned through the apertures  22  in readiness to receive and support building siding elements  6  or the like. The supported siding elements  6  may then be positioned between the column  20  and the surface  8  upon the support members  60 . Multiple support members may be passed through different sets of apertures  22  of the column  20  so as to permit the support of multiple siding elements  6  for securing to the surface  8  without requiring the removal or repositioning of the column  20 . Either a single column  20  may be used which will require support at the other end of the siding elements  6  being applied, or two columns can be used which will allow the siding elements  6  to be fully supported. The lower end of each column  20  may also be supported by a footing or bottom plate as illustrated in  FIG. 4  or  5 .  
         [0066]     In use as a tool for applying sheet material, such as drywall panels, to a surface, the apparatus is most efficiently arranged and used in the following manner as best shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B . A support framework  200  for a drywall panel  202  to be installed on a surface, such as a conventional wood or steel framing structure  204 , is created from a pair of spaced columns  20  connected by a spanning bar  122  inserted through the apertures in the columns to co-ordinate movement of the columns. Each column  20  is connected to a pivoting bottom plate  90  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Bottom plates  90  may simply rest on floor surface  206  in proximity to wood framing structure  204  or the plates may be anchored to the floor surface. The pair of columns define a surface which can be pivoted from a loading position with the columns parallel to the floor to an installation position with the columns at generally right angles to the floor. A drywall panel  202  can be readily maneuvered by a user on top of the columns when the columns are in the generally horizontal loading position parallel to the floor. Drywall panel  202  is illustrated in  FIG. 9A  in dashed lines to show the orientation and details of the underlying support framework  200  in the loading position. A user then applies a lifting force to spanning bar  122  to lift framework  200  and supported drywall panel  202  up from panel loading position at the floor to the generally vertical installation position adjacent framing  204  by pivoting of the columns at bottom plates  90 . This movement is shown by arrow  210  in  FIG. 9A . As best shown in  FIG. 9B , when in the installation position, the drywall panel  202  is held in place against the framing to allow conventional fasteners to be applied through the panel and into the framing to fix the panel in place. An anchoring member  212  in the form of a column can be installed between spanning bar  122  and floor  206  to ensure that the support framework is locked in the installation position.  
         [0067]     Support bars  60  ( FIG. 9A ) inserted into column apertures may be used to support the lower edge of the drywall panel on the framework  200  so that the panel can be installed at a level higher than floor level.  
         [0068]     In an alternative arrangement for installing smaller sheets of material, a single column  20  mounted to a single pivoting bottom plate  90  may be used to support the sheet. If necessary, at least one spanning bar  122  inserted through the apertures of the column to protrude from either side of the column can be used to define a larger surface to support the rear face of the sheet to stabilize the sheet on the column. In this arrangement, a lifting force is applied to the column directly to pivot between the loading and installation positions.  
         [0069]     While the foregoing description of the structure and operation of support framework  200  deals with installation of a drywall panel, it will be readily apparent to a skilled worker that the framework may be used with any sheet material such as plywood, glass or the like.  
         [0070]     While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.