Layout square

An apparatus for laying out positions for the attachment of studs having a desired center to center spacing therebetween on a base plate includes a flat layout square which is precisely dimensioned for easily marking stud positions with a marker on the base plate. The layout square includes a short arm and a long arm extending perpendicularly from the short arm. In one embodiment, the short arm has a width which is equal to the actual thickness of the stud, and the long arm has a length from the intersection of the long arm which is equal to the stud spacing. This layout square also includes a dominant indicator adjacent a free end of the long arm which is spaced from the free end by an offset distance equal to one half of the width of the short arm. In one configuration, the indicator is an outside notch in the long arm and may also further include an inside notch in the long arm. In another configuration, the long arm includes regular measuring lines and the indicator is a dominating line which stands out from the regular measuring lines. It is preferred that the short arm also includes an overall length which is equal to the actual width of the stud. In another embodiment, the width of the short arm is one half of the thickness of the stud, and the long arm has an overall length equal to the stud spacing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to tools for laying out the 
positions of studs on a top plate, sole plate or the like, and more 
particularly to a layout square for quickly and easily laying out the 
positions of studs having a desired center to center spacing therebetween 
on such a plate. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
When buildings or the like are constructed using frame walls made out of 
lumber or other such framing elements, typically the frame walls include 
horizontal top and sole plates (hereinafter referred to as base plates) 
between which are provided vertical studs. It is usually necessary to 
precisely position the studs with a predetermined center to center spacing 
between the studs, including the studs attached to adjacent base plates of 
the wall. As the studs at the beginning and end of a base plate usually 
overlap with the adjacent base plate and are thus preferably attached to 
both, the measurement of the attachment positions of the various studs on 
the base plate requires some skill. In many cases, a single skilled 
carpenter is responsible for laying out all of the attachment positions of 
all of the studs on the various base plates, and other carpenters then 
simply follow the markings made by the skilled carpenter. 
In order to make such measurements, the skilled carpenter makes use of a 
variety of tools. One such tool is a simple tape measure or folding rule. 
However, the use of such a tape measure or folding rule requires the 
skilled carpenter to compensate for the initial offset of the first stud 
on a base plate. 
Also used for making such measurements is a rafter square. A rafter square 
is formed of two perpendicular arms. The long arm is typically 2" wide and 
has an outside edge length of 24" and an inside edge length of 221/2". The 
shorter arm is typically 11/2" wide and has an outside edge length of 16" 
and an inside edge length of 14". However, the use of this tool also 
requires the skilled carpenter to carefully measure each position. 
Thus, it will be appreciated that a tool to quickly and easily measure the 
various stud positions on a base plate is needed in the art. 
Tools of various designs and for various purposes have been disclosed in 
the prior art. For example, a floor square for use in marking a ledger 
notch in the end of a floor joist and for use in marking the intended 
position of a ledger on a girder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,525 
(Deason). The disclosed floor square has two arms perpendicular to one 
another. The short arm includes a notch in an outer edge thereof which is 
precisely dimensioned to match the size of the ledger notch to be cut from 
a floor joist. In addition, the length of the short arm from the inside 
edge of the long arm is also precisely configured so that the notch in the 
short arm is exactly located when the inside edge of the long arm is laid 
along the top of the floor joist. 
Other tools of general interest and used for various purposes have been 
disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,276 (Torczon) for a 
modified carpenter's square used for guiding tools; U.S. Pat. No. 
2,756,505 (Zaleski) for a marking guide; U.S. Pat. No. 387,966 (Beckwith) 
for a combined gage and square; U.S. Pat. No. 2,654,153 (Oyler) for a 
device for estimating board feet in standing trees; and U.S. Pat. No. 
4,654,978 (Wolford, Jr.) for a triangular marking guide for use with metal 
studs. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus for laying out 
positions for the attachment of studs having a desired center to center 
spacing therebetween on a base plate is provided. In a first embodiment, 
the apparatus includes a flat layout square integrally made in one-piece 
of a rigid and durable material and being precisely dimensioned for easily 
marking stud positions with a marker on the base plate. This layout square 
includes a short arm and a long arm extending perpendicularly from the 
short arm. The short arm has a width which is equal to the actual 
thickness of the stud, and the long arm has a length from the intersection 
with the short arm which is equal to the stud spacing. This layout square 
also includes a dominant indicator means adjacent a free end of the long 
arm which is spaced from the free end by an offset distance equal to one 
half of the width of the short arm. Thus, when the indicator means is 
placed at a beginning end of the base plate and subsequently when the free 
end of the long arm is placed at a previous mark on the base plate, with 
the long arm parallel to the stud in both instances, a mark for the proper 
position of a stud is simply made by drawing a marker along one of the 
edges of said short arm and on the surface of the base plate. 
In a first preferred configuration, the indicator means includes an inside 
notch in the long arm extending from the free end along an inside edge of 
the long arm for the offset distance. In another preferred configuration, 
the indicator means further includes an outside notch in the long arm 
extending from the free end along an outside edge of the long arm for the 
offset distance. 
In the preferred configuration of the present invention, the long arm 
includes regular measuring lines and indicia provided therealong. Then, 
the indicator means includes a dominating line which stands out from the 
regular measuring lines. 
With any of these configurations, it is preferred that the short arm also 
includes an inside length which is equal to the actual width of the stud. 
In addition, it is preferred that the width of the short arm is 11/2 
inches, that the inside length of the long arm is 16 inches (for 16" stud 
spacing) or 24 inches (for 24" stud spacing), and that the width of the 
long arm is 1 inch. 
In a second embodiment of the present invention, no dominant indicator 
means is used. Instead, the width of the short arm is equal to one-half of 
the actual thickness of the stud. The outer edge of the long arm then has 
an overall length from the intersection with the outer edge of the short 
arm to the free end thereof which is equal to the stud spacing. In use, 
when the free end of the long arm is placed at a beginning end of the base 
plate with the long arm parallel to the base plate, a mark for the proper 
position of a stud is simply made by drawing a marker along the inner edge 
of the short arm and on the surface of the base plate. Subsequently, when 
the free end of the long arm is placed at a previous mark on the base 
plate with the long arm parallel to the base plate, a mark for the proper 
position of a stud is simply made by drawing a marker along the outer edge 
of the short arm and on the surface of the base plate. 
It is an advantage of the present invention that a convenient and easy to 
use tool is provided for laying out the positions markings of studs on a 
base plate. 
It is also an advantage of the first embodiment of the present invention 
that both side positions of the stud can be quickly and easily marked to 
precisely locate the stud as belonging therebetween. 
Other features and advantages of the present invention are stated in or 
apparent from detailed descriptions of presently preferred embodiments of 
the invention found hereinbelow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
With reference now to the drawings where like numerals represent like 
elements throughout the views, a layout square 10 according to a first 
configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention is depicted 
in FIGS. 1 and 2. It should be appreciated that layout square 10 is 
particularly designed to be used for laying out the positions for the 
attachment of studs having a desired center-to-center spacing therebetween 
on a top plate, sole plate or other such base plate or the like, as 
discussed subsequently in greater detail with respect to FIG. 5. 
Layout square 10 is flat as shown and is conveniently integrally made in 
one piece out of a suitable rigid and durable material, typically a metal 
such as aluminum or steel. Layout square 10 includes a short arm 12 and a 
long arm 14 which lie in the same plane as shown in FIG. 1. Arms 12 and 14 
extend perpendicular to one another and are generally rectangular in 
shape. Short arm 12 includes an inside edge 16, an outside edge 18 
parallel to inside edge 16, and a free end 20 which extends perpendicular 
to edges 16 and 18. Long arm 14 similarly includes an inside edge 22, an 
outside edge 24 parallel to inside edge 22, and a free end 26 which 
extends perpendicular to edges 22 and 24. Provided adjacent free end 26 in 
long arm 14 is an inside notch 28 and an outside notch 30. Both notches 28 
and 30 are rectangular cutouts of long arm 14 as shown. 
As desired, indicia 31 and corresponding lines 33 are provided along long 
arm 14 so that long arm 14 is generally usable for measurements. Suitably, 
lines 33 and indicia 31 mark off regular intervals, such as inches. 
Obviously, other lines and indicia could be provided to mark of intervals 
smaller than inches, and typically 1/16 inch intervals would be provided 
(such as shown in FIG. 4 for that configuration, but omitted here for 
clarity). Short arm 12 is also similarly provided with measuring indicia 
and lines as shown. 
It should be appreciated that layout square 10 is precisely dimensioned, 
not merely because of its measuring lines which obviously must be 
precisely positioned to allow for accurate measurements to be made, but in 
the chosen dimensions for its key features. One such key feature is the 
precise length chosen for inside edge 22 (including that portion along 
notch 28) of long arm 14. This length is exactly a desired stud-to-stud 
centering dimension, in this configuration 16", from free end 26 to inside 
edge 16 of short arm 12. Another key feature is the width of short arm 12 
from inside edge 16 to outside edge 18. This width dimension is chosen as 
the actual thickness dimension of the studs which are to be attached to 
the base plate, which in this preferred configuration is 11/2" (the actual 
thickness of a nominal 2.times.4 or 2.times.6 commonly used in the U.S.). 
A further key feature is the offset distance of a dominant indicator means 
32 from free end 26. In this configuration of layout square 10, indicator 
means 32 is formed by an edge 34 of inside notch 28 and an edge 36 of 
outside notch 30. Edges 34 and 36 are both parallel to free end 26, and 
are located at a distance from free end 26 which is one half of the width 
of short arm 12. Thus, in this preferred configuration where the width of 
short arm 12 is 11/2", the distance of edges 34 and 36 is one half of 
11/2" or 3/4". It will therefore be appreciated that the distance from 
indicator means 32 (edges 34 and 36) to inside edge 16 of short arm 12 is 
the centering dimension less one half of the thickness of the stud, or in 
the preferred configuration 16" minus 3/4" or 151/4". The length of edges 
34 and 36 are not critical, but are chosen to be large enough so that 
edges 34 and 36 are easily identified or dominate the appearance of edges 
22 and 24, but not so large that the portion of long arm 12 between 
notches 28 and 30 would be easily bent. A convenient length for edges 34 
and 36 would thus be about 1/8", so that the width of long arm 14 between 
notches 28 and 30 would then be 3/4". This dimension of edges 34 and 36 
would seem to be a minimum in order to be easily seen, and thus using this 
minimum leaves long arm 14 therebetween with the maximum strength. 
In this preferred embodiment, another key feature is the length of inside 
edge 16 of short arm 12. This dimension is chosen to match the actual 
width dimension of the studs to be attached to the base plate. In the 
depicted configuration, this length is 51/2", and this corresponds to the 
actual width dimension of a nominal 2.times.6 commonly used in the U.S. 
Still another dimension which is preferred for convenience, but which is 
not a key feature in the same sense as those discussed above, is the width 
of long arm 16. In this preferred embodiment, this dimension is selected 
to be 1". Such a dimension is sufficient to assure any required rigidity 
to long arm 16, and additionally such a dimension allows long arm 16 to be 
closely received in the loop normally provided on a carpenter's apron for 
receiving adjustable squares. Thus, layout square 10 is easily and 
conveniently carried in and removed from such a loop which will be usually 
available on each user having such an apron. 
The use of a layout square 10', which is identical with layout square 10 
except for the length of the inside edge which is 31/2", is schematically 
depicted in FIG. 5. As layout square 10' is otherwise identical with 
layout square 10, the same identifying numerals will be used in describing 
layout square 10' as are used for layout square 10, but with the addition 
of a "'" after the numeral. In FIG. 5, it will be appreciated that a base 
plate 40 is depicted, which in this example is a nominal 2x4 whose actual 
dimensions as well appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art is 
11/2" by 31/2" (and having a standard length, typically of 8 feet). To 
this base plate 40, a plurality of studs, such as stud 42, are to be 
attached at predetermined positions. In this example, the predetermined 
spacing of the studs is 16", as is typically used and often required by 
various building codes. 
While the desired spacing of each stud from another is 16 ", it will be 
appreciated that typically the first stud to be attached to base plate 40 
must be located with the center thereof 16"]from an end 44 of base plate 
40. However, what the experienced carpenter marks on base plate 40 is not 
the center of the stud--were the center position to be marked, this mark 
would then be covered or hidden from view when the stud is moved into 
position to be attached to base plate 40. Instead, the skilled carpenter 
makes a mark 46 which represents the (in this case) position of the left 
side of the stud--which thus will remain visible. Next to mark 46, the 
carpenter then makes an "X" or the like to show that the body of the stud 
goes over this area while the chosen side is placed in alignment with mark 
46 which thus remains visible during placement and attachment. 
In order to easily make mark 46 with layout square 10' according to the 
present invention in the proper location, inside edge 22' of long arm 14' 
is laid along or on top of base plate 40 and positioned therealong until 
indicator means 32' and in particular edge 34' aligns with end 44 of base 
plate 40. It will be appreciated that for clarity, layout square 10' has 
been depicted twice, each time to one side of base plate 40 with an arrow 
used to show where layout square 10' would be placed on base plate 40. 
With long arm 14' parallel with base plate 40, inside edge 15' of short 
arm 12' is then precisely located 151/4 from end 44 of base plate 40 at 
the position where mark 46 is to be made. 
It is thus a simple procedure to align indicator means 32' (and in 
particular edge 34')with end 44 of base plate 40 and to then draw mark 46 
with a pencil or the like at the precisely desired location. Further, if 
desired, a mark 48 can also be made at the same time along outside edge 
18' of short arm 12' so that the location of the stud is understood to be 
between marks 46 and 48. The use of mark 48 is conveniently made in place 
of the "X", more quickly, simply, and to serve as a check on the exact 
positioning of the stud. However, the "X" can also be used as normally 
done without use of mark 48 if desired, or an "X" can be subsequently 
placed between marks 46 and 48 to reinforce the positioning information of 
marks 46 and 48. 
With mark 46 precisely located, the remainder of marks 50 (only one is 
shown) to be provided on base plate 40 are located at 16" intervals from 
mark 46. In order to provide these marks, free end 26' of long arm 12' is 
simply placed at mark 46 (the previous left side mark). Then, with long 
arm 12' parallel to base plate 40, the proper position of the next mark 50 
is where inside edge 16' of short arm 12' is located. Thus, mark 50 is 
simply made once free end 26' is properly located. Thereafter, the 
remaining marks 50 are similarly made by simply aligning free end 26' with 
the previous (left side) mark 50 to provide 16" spacings for the remainder 
of the studs to be attached to base plate 40. As with mark 46, a 
complementary mark using outside edge 18' can also be made at the same 
time that mark 50 is made, as desired. 
Obviously, this simple and easy procedure is then repeated for the 
corresponding base plate (on the other end of the studs), and for other 
pairs of base plates as required. Where non-centered studs are required to 
be located on the base plate, the locations of such studs are done in the 
usual manner, with the layout square being used for all 16" marks. In 
addition, by use of indicia 31 and lines 33, it is also possible to use 
the layout square for marking these non-standard positions. 
Depicted in FIG. 3 is an alternative configuration of a layout square 60 
according to the present invention. Layout square 60 is basically similar 
to layout square 10 described above, but layout square 60 is designed to 
precisely locate position markings for 2.times.4s on 24" centers. Thus, 
layout square 60 has an inside edge 62 of long arm 64 which is 24" long 
and an inside edge 66 of short arm 68 which is 31/2" long. In this 
configuration, layout square 60 also includes an indicator means 70 formed 
by a single notch 72 provided along inside edge 62 of long arm 64. Notch 
72 is conveniently cut somewhat deeper into inside edge 62 so that edge 76 
is more easily located and dominates inside edge 62 adjacent end 44 of 
base plate 40. However, the precise location of indicator means 70 is 
still the same as in layout square 10 discussed above, as are the 
remainder of the key features not specifically discussed. 
In use, layout square 60 is used in the same basic manner as layout square 
10' discussed above, but obviously for 24' stud spacings. 
Depicted in FIG. 4 is an exemplary portion of still another alternative 
configuration of a layout square 80. The depicted portion is the end of a 
long arm 82 adjacent a free end 84. In this configuration, long arm 82 
includes an indicator means 86 which is a dominating line 88. Dominating 
line 88 has an appearance which stands out dramatically over the 
appearance of usual measuring lines 90 and the associated indicia 92. 
Thus, it will be appreciated that long arm 82 is marked off by measuring 
lines 90 into 1/16th inch increments in a manner typical to rulers and the 
like. However, at the 3/4" position which is the desired offset distance 
as discussed above, dominating line 88 stands out over all of measuring 
lines 90 so that dominating line 88 is easy to locate and position at end 
44 of base plate 40. 
The remainder of layout square 80 is configured in the same manner as 
layout squares 10, 10' or 60, or as otherwise desired consistent with the 
present invention. In use, it will be appreciated that layout square 80 is 
used in the same manner as layout squares 10, 10' or 60 discussed above. 
Depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7 is a second embodiment of a layout square 100 
according to the present invention. Layout square 100 is basically similar 
to layout square 10 described above, and thus includes a short arm 102 and 
a long arm 104. However, layout square 100 is used in a slightly different 
manner than layout square 10, and thus is sized with some different 
critical dimensions. 
In particular, outside edge 106 of long arm 104 is exactly equal to the 
stud spacing length (16" in the depicted configuration and hence similar 
to that of layout square 10). In addition, the width of short arm 102, 
that is the distance between inside edge 108 and outside edge 110, is 
exactly equal to one-half of the width of the stud (3/4" in the depicted 
configuration). It will thus be appreciated that the critical distance of 
inside edge 112 of long arm 104 is thus the stud spacing distance minus 
one-half of the stud width. 
Other dimensions of layout square 100 are then similar to layout squares 
10, 60, and 80 discussed above. For example, the length of short arm 102 
from inside edge, 112 of long arm 104 is preferably equal to the stud 
width. In addition, the width of long arm 104 is preferably 1" to fit 
conveniently in the usual loops provided on carpenter's aprons. 
In use, layout square 100 is used to lay out the same series of lines as 
the other layout squares discussed above. However, layout square is used 
somewhat differently and is considered somewhat simpler to use. In use for 
the first mark, free end 114 of long arm 104 is simply placed in alignment 
with end 44 of base plate 40. As the first mark is desired at a distance 
of only 151/4" (for 16" stud spacings with 11/2" thick studs), it will be 
appreciated that inside edge 108 is thus at this critical location and a 
mark is easily made by drawing a marker along inside edge 108 and on the 
surface of base plate 40. 
Thereafter, as each subsequent mark is desired to be 16" from the previous 
mark, free end 114 is then simply aligned with the previous mark so that 
outside edge 110 of short arm 102 is then spaced exactly 16" from the 
previous mark. A subsequent mark is then easily made by drawing a marker 
along outside edge 110 and on the surface of base plate 40. 
Although layout squares 10, 10', 60, 80 and 100 have been described as 
being used for studs having an actual thickness of 11/2", it will be 
appreciated that this is simply the standard used in the U.S. Where other 
standard thicknesses are used or subsequently adopted, suitable changes 
would obviously be made as well appreciated by those of ordinary skill in 
the art. Similarly, while the use of the present invention has been 
described for 16" or 24" stud spacings, where other standard spacings are 
used or desired, the layout square of the present invention would again 
obviously be changed to suit those circumstances. In addition, other 
dominant indicator means would also be possible for the first embodiment. 
Thus, while the present invention has been described with respect to 
exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary 
skill in the art that variations and modifications can be effected within 
the scope and spirit of the invention.