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This application claims the benefit of Provisional application Ser. No. 60/310,969, filed Aug. 9, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to construction tools and more particularly to a hand operated jack for lifting, lowering, positioning and holding items such as wallboard for installation by a single installer. 
     Various types of wallboard jacking devices are known for lifting and holding wallboard during the installation process. Although such devices have served the purpose, they have not proved entirely satisfactory because they require the installer to press downwardly on a lever to lift and hold the wallboard into position. Use of the installer&#39;s body weight to lift the wallboard results in fatigue of the installer over time when a plurality of wallboard panels are being installed. Also, more than one installer is required when using some prior art jack devices because one worker is required to hold the wallboard in position while maintaining his weight on the lifting lever while a second worker installs appropriate fastening devices to the wallboard. 
     When using such prior art jack devices it is also difficult to make fine tuned or small adjustments to the position of the wallboard as it is being installed. This is because it is difficult for the installer to manipulate the foot lever of the prior art devices in such a way that the wallboard can be raised or lowered in small increments to properly position the wallboard prior to installation. 
     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a wallboard jack for lifting, lowering, positioning and holding wallboard panels during installation. 
     Another object is to provide such apparatus which can enable wallboard to be installed by a single installer. 
     A further object of the invention is the provision of such apparatus which reduces installer fatigue during the installation process by enabling the installer to lift or lower the wallboard by turning a hand knob instead of using the installer&#39;s weight on a lever to lift, lower and hold the wallboard in position. 
     Still another object is to provide such an apparatus which enables fine tuned or small adjustments of the wallboard&#39;s position by merely turning the knob to raise or lower the wall-board. 
     A further object is to provide such an apparatus which screws a foot member down against the floor to cause a lifting of the wallboard instead of requiring the installer to use his body weight to lift the wallboard. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages are realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     To achieve these and other objects, the present invention provides a wallboard jack and holding apparatus which comprises: a first housing having a first plurality of sidewalls or supports and a top wall member connected to predetermined ones of the sidewalls or supports, the top wall member defining a first threaded opening therein; a rod extending through the first opening and defining an exterior, threaded surface threadably engaging the first opening and further defining first and second ends; a foot member connected to the first end of the rod; a handle connected to the second end of the rod; and a flange member connected to a first one of the sidewalls or supports. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory but are not restrictive of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of the wallboard jack and holding apparatus; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a portion of the apparatus and showing the foot member in more detail; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view showing the apparatus lifting a wallboard panel; and 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line  4 — 4  in FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown a wallboard jack and holding apparatus  10  in accordance with this invention. 
     Apparatus  10  includes a first housing  12  having a first plurality of sidewalls or supports  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″ and  14 ′″ conventionally connected together. Housing  12  further includes a top wall member  16  conventionally connected to the sidewalls or supports, and top wall member  16  defines a first threaded opening  18  therein. The bottom of housing  12  is open. 
     Bottom edeges surfaces  15 ,  15 ″ of sidewalls or supports  14 ,  14 ″ can be bevelled or slanted upwardly from sidewall or support  14 ′″ toward sidewall or support  14 ′ so that the height of sidewall or support  14 ′ is less than the height of sidewall or support  14 ′″ by approximately one-eighth of an inch. The one-eighth of an inch will vary depending upon the overall height of apparatus  10  so that when apparatus  10  is inserted under panel  11 , portion  30 ′ will contact panel  11  before or at the same time as spacer edge element  42  of member  38  contacts panel  11 . 
     Apparatus  10  further comprises a rod  20  which extends through opening  18  and which defines an exterior, threaded surface  20 ′ which threadably engages opening  18 . 
     Apparatus  10  further includes a foot member  22  connected to a first end  24  of rod  20 , and a handle  26  conventionally connected to a second end  28  of rod  20 . Apparatus  10  further includes a flange member  30  conventionally connected to a first one  14 ′″ of the sidewalls. Flange member  30  can be formed from an L-shaped element having an upper portion  30 ′ conventionally attached to sidewall or support  14 ′″ and which extends slightly below lower edge surface  15 ′″ of sidewall or support  14 ′″ by about one-eighth of an inch. The one-eighth of an inch will vary depending upon the overall height of apparatus  10  so that when apparatus  10  is inserted under panel  11 , portion  30 ′ will contact panel  11  before or at the same time as spacer edge element  42  of member  38  contacts panel  11 . This configuration can be provided as an alternative to slanting or bevelling bottom edges surfaces  15 ,  15 ″ as previously described. If portion  30 ′ extends slightly below lower edge surface  15 ′″ , then bottom edges surfaces  15 ,  15 ″ will not be bevelled and will be straight so that the height of sidewall or support  14 ′ will be the same as the height of sidewalls or supports  14 ,  14 ″ and  14 ′″. Lower portion  30 ″ of flange member  30  preferably extends outwardly from upper portion  30 ′ a distance equal to the thickness of a standard wallboard panel  11  so that apparatus  10  will only lift panel  11  and will not try to lift the wall framing to which panel  11  will be attached. 
     Apparatus  10  further comprises a second housing  32  having a second plurality of sidewalls or supports  34 ,  34 ′,  34 ″ and  34 ′″ conventionally connected together to form an interior space  36 , and sidewalls or supports  34 ,  34 ′,  34 ″ and  34 ′″ are conventionally connected to top wall member  16  with interior space  36  in fluid communication with first opening  18 . Rod  20  is positioned within and extends through interior space  36 . 
     Apparatus  10  further comprises a spacer member  38  conventionally connected to sidewalls or supports  34 ,  34 ′,  34 ″ and  34 ′″, and spacer member  38  defines a second opening  40  therein in fluid communication with interior space  36 . Rod  20  extends through opening  40 . 
     A protective edge element  42  is conventionally connected to spacer member  38  for engaging the wallboard being installed with apparatus  10  without damaging that wallboard. Edge element  42  is preferably comprised of or coated with a rubber or plastic material, such as vinyl. 
     Spacer member  38  is preferably a substantially flat, rigid member which extends beyond all of sidewalls or supports  34 ,  34 ′,  34 ″ and  34 ′″ and beyond handle  26  to provide space between the wallboard being installed by apparatus  10  and handle  26  to facilitate turning of the handle by a user of apparatus  10  and to prevent handle  26  from striking the floor and possible bending of rod  20  if apparatus  10  were to fall over from an upright position. 
     Apparatus  10  further includes a stop member  44  connected to rod  20  between foot member  22  and opening  18 . Stop member  44  is preferably adjustably connected to rod  20  and may be a threaded nut which threadably engages exterior threaded surface  20 ′ of rod  20 . Stop member  44  will contact top wall member  16  to limit upward movement of rod  20 . 
     Rod  20  defines a longitudinal axis, and foot member  22  is preferably movably connected to end  24  of rod  20  for enabling foot member  22  to rotate, pivot and move axially with respect to the longitudinal axis of rod  20 . 
     First end  24  of rod  20  defines a third threaded opening  46  therein in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of rod  20 , and foot member  22  defines a fourth opening  48  therein. A screw  50  is positioned within opening  48  and threadably engages threaded opening  46  for holding foot member  22  onto end  24  of rod  20 . 
     Foot member  22  defines a bottom surface  52  contiguous with opening  48  and screw  50  is preferably recessed within opening  48  with respect to bottom surface  52 . 
     Fourth opening  48  defines an upper portion  54  of a predetermined length and having a diameter larger than the external diameter of rod  20 . Opening  48  further defines a lower portion  56  having a diameter greater than the diameter of upper portion  54 , and foot member  22  defines an annular surface  58  between upper and lower portions  54 ,  56  for engaging a head of screw  50  when screw  50  is threaded into opening  46  so that screw  50  prevents foot member  22  from sliding off of rod  20 . 
     Apparatus  10  further includes a locknut  60  threadably positioned on rod  20  adjacent to first end  24  of rod  20 . A first washer  62 , preferably made of metal and of predetermined thickness, is positioned on rod member  20  between locknut  60  and foot member  22 . A second washer or a coating  64  on top surface  22 ″ of foot member  22 , preferably comprised of a low-friction material such as Teflon® and of predetermined thickness, is positioned around rod member  20  between washer  62  and foot member  22 . 
     The distance between annular surface  58  and locknut  60  is greater than the total of the length of upper portion  54  of opening  48  and the combined thicknesses of washers  62  and  64  to permit foot member  22  to move axially with respect to the longitudinal axis of rod  20 . Because the diameter of upper portion  54  of opening  48  is greater than the external diameter of rod  20 , foot member  22  can also pivot and rotate with respect to the longitudinal axis of rod  20 . 
     Washer or coating  64  and bottom surface  52  of foot member  22  are preferably comprised of a low-friction material, such as Teflon® or polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     In operation and use of apparatus  10 , wallboard panels are conventionally attached to ceilings without use of apparatus  10 . Wallboard panels  11  to be mounted in vertical positions will first be located on the floor directly below where the wallboard panel is to be vertically mounted. Apparatus  10  is then placed into position by sliding flange member  30  under the bottom edge of the wallboard panel and approximately near the center of the wallboard panel. If the wallboard panel is resting on the floor, the installer can kick or hit sidewall or support  14 ′ with a hammer until flange member  30  is under the wallboard panel. 
     If bottom edges surfaces  15 ,  15 ″ are bevelled, or alternatively, if portion  30 ′ extends below lower edge surface  15 ′″, then the top of apparatus  10  will be slightly angled away from the wallboard panel as it rests on the floor. As a result, when apparatus  10  is kicked under the wallboard panel, portion  30 ′ will contact the wallboard panel before or at the same time as spacer edge element  42  of spacer member  38 . Also, because spacer edge element  42  of member  38  is positioned further from wall member  34  than is sidewall  14 ′″, handle  26  is angled away from panel  11  so that the installer can position his hand on handle  26  and between handle  26  and panel  11 . 
     Handle  26  is then manually turned in a clockwise direction by the installer which causes apparatus  10  and the wallboard panel to be raised as foot member  22  remains positioned on the floor. Handle  26  is turned until the wallboard panel is raised to the desired elevation or until it butts against the ceiling wallboard panels. Turning handle  26  causes threaded rod  20  to threadably move through threaded opening  18  to raise apparatus  10 , as described, while foot member  22  remains on the floor. 
     At this point, the installer is free to walk away from the wallboard panel and from apparatus  10  to make sure that the wallboard panel fits properly and is properly positioned. The installer can then fasten the wallboard panel to the wall studs (not shown) in a conventional manner. After the wallboard panel has been attached to the studs, the installer can turn handle  26  in a counterclockwise direction to lower apparatus  10  with respect to foot member  22  and with respect to the floor. Flange member  30  can then be removed from beneath the wallboard panel. 
     While installing a wallboard panel, apparatus  10  can be adjusted upwardly or downwardly by turning handle  26  to fine-tune or to make small adjustments to the position of the wallboard panel. Because foot member  22  is adjustably and movably connected to rod  20 , apparatus  10  can be vertically oriented when installing the wallboard panels even though the floor may be uneven or not precisely horizontal. 
     When apparatus  10  is lifted off the floor with the wallboard panel by turning handle  26 , foot member  22  remains on the floor and does not rotate on the floor. Handle  26 , rod  20 , stop member  44 , locknut  60 , washer  62  and screw  50  will all rotate together. A Teflon® washer or a Teflon® coating  64  on top surface  22 ″ of foot member  22  and foot member  22  will not rotate as handle  26  is turned. As a result, frictional forces occur between steel washer  62  and Teflon® washer or coating  64  as handle  26  is turned. This minimizes friction and avoids metal rubbing against metal. A low-friction material other than Teflon® could be used for washer or coating  64 . 
     A bottom surface  22 ′ of foot member  22  is preferably made of or coated with Teflon® or other low-friction material to enable foot member  22  to slide easily over the floor surface. Screw  50  is recessed within opening  40  of foot member  22  so that screw  50  does not contact the floor. 
     Rod  20 , spacer member  38 , housing  32 , top wall member  16 , housing  12 , flange member  30 , stop member  44 , locknut  60 , washer  62 , foot member  22  and screw  50  are preferably made of steel or other appropriate metal or material. Handle  26  is preferably made of cast aluminum or plastic. Edge element  42  is preferably comprised of or coated with plastic or rubber material. Apparatus  10  can be made in various sizes, and will stand upright on its own when not in use to eliminate the need for the installer to bend over to pick it up each time the apparatus is used. This is accomplished by making housing  12  large enough to support apparatus  10  in an upright position when foot member  22  is retracted into housing  12 . 
     The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details shown and described, and departures may be made from such details without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

Summary:
A jack for raising, lowering and holding articles such as wallboard can be used by a single installer to install a wall-board panel. The wallboard panel is lifted by turning a knob that moves a foot member down against the floor to lift the wallboard. The installer can easily make small adjustments of the wallboard position by turning the knob to raise or lower the wallboard panel.