Abstract:
A panel installation support apparatus versatile and convenient for temporary attachment of the panel to a frame member includes an adjustable support surface for accommodating various panel thicknesses, a sloped surface to support the leading edge of the panel when positioning in place, and an alignment support shelf to properly align an edge of the panel with the joist or stud while supporting the edge of the panel. An accessory block may be used when standing a panel against a wall or when hanging drywall on sloped ceilings.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relations to installation of building panels and, more particularly, to a support apparatus to temporarily support a drywall or other panel until an installer can secure the panel in place. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Installation of panels such as drywall is known in the art. Installation of drywall is particularly cumbersome, labor intensive and tiring, particularly for installation overhead on a ceiling. Drywall sheets are heavy and somewhat fragile if not handled and installed carefully. A drywall sheet is typically lifted by two persons, and supported in place by one person against the overhead joists or against wall studs while the second person secures the drywall in place with nails or screws. Drywall sheets are typically 48 or 54 inches wide and eight to 14 feet long. The standard thickness of drywall is one-half inch and five-eighths inch, but other thicknesses may be used such as one-quarter inch or three-eighths inch. 
         [0003]    To properly install a sheet of drywall, the sheet should be held snug against the ceiling joists or wall studs and screwed or nailed in place starting from the center of the sheet and fanning out. If the sheet is not against or close to the studs or joists the screws or nails may pull through the drywall. If the corners or edges of the sheet are nailed or screwed first the edges or corners may break, or the middle of the sheet may bow resulting in an uneven or sagging installation or nail pop as the bow is pulled to the stud or joist and the nail or screw head pulls through the drywall. Additionally, supporting heavy sheets of drywall overhead throughout the day is tiring while trying to hold a sheet against the ceiling joists it is difficult to adjust, align reposition the heavy sheet. 
         [0004]    There is a need for a support apparatus that is easy to use, quickly repositionable, can be used for both wood and metal studs, holds the sheet in close proximity to the stud or joist and is adaptable for various thicknesses of drywall. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present invention provides a panel installation support apparatus that is versatile and convenient for attachment of the panel to a frame member. The support apparatus includes an adjustable support surface for accommodating various panel thicknesses, a sloped surface to support the leading edge of the panel when positioning in place, and an alignment support shelf to properly align an edge of the panel with the joist or stud while supporting the edge of the panel. An accessory block may be used when standing a panel against a wall or when hanging drywall on sloped ceilings. 
     
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation perspective view of the panel support apparatus of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a right side elevation perspective view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an overhead installation view showing three panel support apparatuses clamped to ceiling joists. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view looking up at one of the panel support apparatuses of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is an overhead installation view showing a drywall sheet being supported by the panel support apparatuses. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is an overhead installation view showing a drywall sheet being supported by the panel support apparatus. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is an end view of the panel support apparatus. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is an overhead installation view showing a drywall sheet being supported along a longitudinal edge by the panel support apparatus. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a wall installation view showing two panel support apparatuses clamped to wall studs supporting a drywall panel. 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an accessory block for use with the panel support apparatus. 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the accessory block of  FIG. 11  engaged with the panel support apparatus. 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is an overhead installation view showing two panel support apparatuses clamped to wall studs with engaged accessory blocks supporting a drywall sheet. 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is an overhead installation view showing two panel support apparatuses clamped to wall studs with engaged accessory blocks supporting a drywall panel for installation on a sloped ceiling. 
           [0020]      FIG. 15  is a side perspective view of the panel support apparatus clamped to a longitudinal metal stud. 
           [0021]      FIG. 16  is a back perspective view of the panel support apparatus clamped to a lateral metal stud. 
           [0022]      FIG. 17  is a back perspective view of the panel support apparatus secured to a joist with double-headed nails. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for the claims and/or as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
         [0024]    Moreover, except where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description and in the claims are to be understood as modified by the word “about” in describing the broader scope of this invention. Practice within the numerical limits stated is generally preferred. Also, unless expressly stated to the contrary, the description of a group or class of materials as suitable or preferred for a given purpose in connection with the invention implies that mixtures or combinations of any two or more members of the group or class may be equally suitable or preferred. 
         [0025]    Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-3 , a panel support apparatus of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  30 . Panel support apparatus  30  has a generally L-shaped body  32  with a lateral supporting arm  34  extending rearwardly from and generally perpendicularly to the L-shaped body  32 . The U-shaped body  32  includes right  36  and left  38  back members, an alignment ledge  40  for engaging a ceiling joist or wall stud, a panel support ledge  42  and sloped support members  44 ,  46  and  48  separated by clamping channels  50  and  52 . The lateral supporting arm  34  includes a lateral back member  54  with a clamping window  56  and a lower leg  55 . Right  36  and left  38  longitudinal back members include clamping windows  58  and  60  vertically aligned with channels  50  and  52 , respectively. The back members  36 ,  38  and  54  include raised surface indicia to press into wood framing to keep the panel support apparatus from slipping and twisting. 
         [0026]    The alignment ledge  40  has a width of approximately one-half inch. The height of the right  36  and left  38  back members may be two to three inches, for example. The panel support ledge  42  may be one-half inch wide and have a height of 11/16 to support a five-eighths inch drywall sheet. Generally, the height of panel support ledge  42  may be one-sixteenth inch more than the thickness of the drywall sheet to be hung. In the preferred embodiment, a thickness adjustment spacer  62  may be used to accommodate different drywall thicknesses. The spacer  62  includes two or more posts  64  spaced to engage apertures  66  in ledge  42 . For example, if the panel support ledge  42  is eleven-sixteenths inch high, a five-eighths inch thick drywall panel may be supported with a one-sixteenth inch clearance between the drywall sheet and the joists or studs without a spacer  62 . A one-half inch drywall panel may be hung by inserting a one-eighth inch thickness adjustment spacer  62  to maintain the one-sixteenth inch clearance. 
         [0027]    An alignment window  68  is included through the panel support ledge  42  and sloped support member  46 . Adjustment spacer  62  may also include an alignment window  70  aligned with the alignment window  68 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 4-9 , panel support apparatuses  30  are illustrated secured via C-clamp vice grips  72  to ceiling joists  74 . To properly align the panel support apparatuses  30 , a pencil or other mark is made across the ceiling joists  74  a distance from the wall header  76  equaling the length (or width) of the drywall sheet  78  to be hung. For example, if the drywall sheet is four feet wide, a mark  80  is made using a framing square perpendicularly across the joists  74  four feet from the wall header  76 . Looking through the alignment window  70 , the installer can align the mark  80  with alignment indicia  82  on the bottom surface  84  of the panel support apparatus  30 . 
         [0029]    Once the panel support apparatuses  30  are aligned and secured to the ceiling joists  74 , the front edge  86  of the drywall sheet  78  is brought into contact with the sloped support members  44 ,  46  and  48 . The panel  78  may now be pushed up the sloped surfaces until the front edge  86  comes to rest on the panel support ledges  42 . The drywall sheet  78  may now be adjusted as desired while fully supported along the front edge  86 . The widths of the alignment ledge  40  and the panel support ledge  42  provide adjustment space  88  for the drywall sheet  78 . Once the installer is satisfied with the alignment of the drywall sheet  78 , the sheet  78  may be screwed or nailed to the ceiling joists  74 . When the drywall sheet  78  is secured to the ceiling joists  74 , the C-clamp vice grips  72  may be released and the panel support apparatuses  30  may be moved to the next position to install another drywall sheet. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 10 , when installing a drywall sheet  90  to wall studs  92 , the panel support apparatuses  30  may be secured to the wall studs  92  via C-clamp vice grips  72 . To properly align the panel support apparatuses  30  a pencil or other mark  80  is made across the wall studs  92  an equal distance from the ceiling  94  or other reference point equal to the length or width of the drywall sheet  90  depending on the orientation of the sheet  90  to be hung. Looking through the alignment window  70 , the installer can align the mark  80  with the alignment indicia  82  on the bottom surface  84  of the panel support apparatus  30 . 
         [0031]    Once the panel support apparatuses  30  are aligned and secured with the C-clamp vice grips  72  to the wall studs  92 , the bottom edge  96  of the drywall sheet  90  is brought into contact with the sloped support members  44 ,  46  and  48 . The drywall sheet  90  is now supported along the bottom edge  96  and may be pivoted flat against the wall studs  92 . The drywall sheet  90  may then be aligned as desired and secured to the wall studs  92 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 11-14 , an accessory block for use in combination with the panel support apparatus  30  is generally indicated by reference numeral  100 . Accessory block  100  includes a beveled profile  102 , which matches the profile of the sloped support members  44 ,  46  and  48 , the panel support ledge  42  and alignment ledge  40 . A lip  104  fits over the leading tip of the sloped support members  44 ,  46  and  48  to the lower surface  84  of the panel support apparatus  30 . The accessory block includes a sloped support surface  106  extending from a top surface  108  in a plane which intersects a lower surface  84  plane. The top surface  108  lies in a plane parallel to the front surfaces  37  and  39  of right  36  and left  38  back members and surface  43  of panel support ledge  42 . 
         [0033]    When installing the last sheet of drywall  110  where the panel support apparatus  30  cannot be secured to the ceiling joists, the accessory blocks  100  may be used in combination with the panel support apparatuses  30 . The panel support apparatuses  30  may be secured to the wall studs  92  with C-clamp vice grips  72 . With the accessory block  100  in place, the drywall sheet  110  may be lifted and the front edge  112  placed on the sloped support surface  106 . The drywall sheet  110  can then be raised and slid against the wall header  76 , aligned as desired and secured to the ceiling joists  74  with screws or nails. When the drywall sheet  110  is being held against the ceiling joists  74 , the front edge  112  rests on and is supported by the top surface  108  of the accessory block  100 . 
         [0034]    Similarly, when installing drywall sheets  120  on a vaulted ceiling  122 , the panel support apparatuses  30  with the accessory blocks  100  may be secured to the wall studs  92  with C-clamp vice grips  72 . With the accessory block  100  in place, the drywall sheet  120  may be lifted and the front edge  124  placed on the sloped support surface  106 . The drywall sheet  120  can then be raised and held against the vaulted ceiling  122 , aligned as desired and secured in place. When the drywall sheet  120  is being held against the vaulted ceiling  122 , the front edge  124  rests on and is supported by the top surface  108  of the accessory block  100 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 15 , the panel support apparatus  30  is illustrated secured by a C-clamp vice grips  72  longitudinally to a steel stud or joist  130 . The upper jaws  73  of the vice grips  72  passes through the clamping window  60  in the left back member  38  to clamp the lower flange  132  of the steel stud  130 . The lower jaw  75  of the vice grips  72  is placed in the aligned clamping channel  52  to engage the panel support apparatus  30 . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 16 , the panel support apparatus  30  is illustrated secured by a C-clamp vice grips  72  laterally to a steel stud or joist  130 . The upper jaw  73  of the vice grips  72  clamps the lower flange  132  of the steel stud  130  to the lower lea  55  of the supporting arm  34  opposite the lower jaw  75 . For an orientation with the open channel of the steel stud  130  facing the lateral back member  54  of the lateral supporting arm  34 , the upper jaw  73  passes through the clamping window  56  to clamp the lower flange  132  of the steel stud to the lower leg  55  opposite the lower jaw  75 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  and  17 , the panel support apparatus  30  may be temporarily secured longitudinally to a stud or joist  140  using double-headed nails  142  or screws passing through apertures  144  to support a drywall sheet  146 . Similarly, for a lateral application (not shown), double-headed nails  142  or screws may be driven into a joist or stud through apertures  148  to temporarily secure the panel support apparatus  30  to the joist or stud to support a dry-wall sheet  146 . 
         [0038]    It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto, except in so far as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable equivalents thereof.