Abstract:
An apparatus for installing soffit segments below the eaves of a building. A main body with a standoff is temporarily fastened to the sub-fascia. A swing arm and a locking arm are pivotally connected to each other and also to the main body, except that a J-shaped slot in the locking arm permits the locking arm to translate, as well as pivot, with respect to the main body. A segment of soffit material is placed upon the swing arm, and the swing arm is rotated about the pivot joint on the main body creating a lever action to lift the soffit material into a horizontal position immediately below the eave. The locking arm slot is notched to lock the locking arm and swing arm, into a fixed position. The apparatus thereby steadily maintains the soffit segment in position pending its permanent attachment to the underside of the eave. The apparatus is temporarily attached to the structure via a clamp arm or via screw into the sub-fascia.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 09/226,284, entitled “Soffit Installation Apparatus”, filed on Jan. 7, 1999, and the specification thereof is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an apparatus to aid with the installation of soffit beneath the eaves of buildings. 
     Buildings, particularly residential homes, often have eaves or a projecting edge. The outermost edge of the eave typically has a brief vertical section that is referred to as fascia. The under portion of the eave occasionally remains open, exposing the joist and rails of the trusses. More commonly, these areas are covered with a planar material such as plywood. This material is generally attached to a horizontal or nearly horizontal member of the support structure on the underside of the eave. If the described area is covered then the covering is usually referred to as “soffit.” 
     Due to the location of the work to be done to install a soffit, and the time of the installation, this work is labor intensive (commonly requiring 2-3 workers), and can be hazardous for the worker(s). 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,967 to Bodthker shows an adjustable support structure used to support various types of roofs. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,857 to Lovering discloses a soffit support structure used to support structure incorporating parallel spaced vertical props connected by a horizontal member, with the props having heads thereon for supporting a short beam for supporting the soffit. 
     The patents to Bodthker and Lovering reveal that a need still remains for a tool that reduces the labor, improves the efficiency, and economy of soffit installation. The invention presented here meets that need. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a soffit installation apparatus that improves the efficiency, economy, and safety of soffit installation beneath eaves. 
     The present invention is temporarily secured to the roof and or fascia of the eave and includes elements which permit a segment of soffit material to be swung into position horizontally immediately beneath the eave, and held in position while permanent attachment of the soffit is performed. 
     Advantages of this invention include simplicity and ease in use, operation by a single user, adaptability to related functions in the art of soffit installation, and economy of manufacture. The invention is easy to use by those skilled in the art of installing soffit and can be easily learned by those new to the art of soffit installation. 
     Other objects, advantages and novel features, and further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate several embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded side view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a right side view of the apparatus depicted in FIG. 1, showing the apparatus assembled for use. 
     FIG. 3 is an elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, shown in use position upon the eave of a building. 
     FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the preferred embodiment seen in FIG. 2, in preliminary position partially disposed upon an eave of a building. 
     FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the embodiment seen in FIG. 4, depicting the apparatus fully attached to the building eave, and showing a portion of a soffit material in place upon the apparatus. 
     FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the apparatus seen in FIG. 5, shown later in time with the swing arm bearing the soffit material pivoted into position below the eave. 
     FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the apparatus seen in FIG. 6, shown later in time with the swing arm bearing the soffit material pivoted into position below the eave, and illustrating how the soffit material may be lifted off the swing arm for positioning to be attached to the eave. 
     FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the apparatus seen in FIG. 7, shown later in time with the swing arm bearing the soffit material pivoted into position below the eave, and illustrating the soffit attached to the eave. 
     FIGS.  2  and  4 - 8  show the components used to attach the optional clamp arm. To use the invention without the clamp arm, certain of the illustrated components are removed and a single screw is used as seen in FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The apparatus of the invention may take several forms and embodiments, and this disclosure includes descriptions of two of those embodiments. The function is generally the same for all alternative embodiments and can be assumed to be the same except as to the differences particularly noted. 
     A broad description of the apparatus is made with reference to FIGS.  1 - 3 : The apparatus is made of four main elements with a fifth element that is optional. The first element is the standoff  40  which is used in either of the embodiments described herein to temporarily fasten the apparatus. The second element is the main body  10  which aligns nearly parallel to the sub-fascia  21 . The third main element is a swing arm  12  which allows the soffit material  23  to be placed for lifting into position for final installation. The fourth main element is a lock arm  14  that temporarily locks the swing arm into position while the soffit material  23  is affixed to the structure, as suggested in FIG. 3. A fifth element, a clamp arm  16 , may be used (if preferred). Clamp arm  16  aligns to the roofline  25  and hooks to a batten  27  previously temporarily installed by the roofer. 
     Standoff Assembly Detail: 
     A. Movably attached to the main body  10  is a standoff  40 . Standoff  40  allows the main body  10  to remain nearly parallel to the sub-fascia  21  with no interference from the roof decking material  25  or other parts that may protrude outward beyond the sub-fascia  21 , thereby preventing the desired alignment of the main body  10 . 
     B. The upper part of the standoff  40  has a hole  42  therein for attaching the clamp arm  16  to the standoff. A pin  43  on standoff  40  mounts through a corresponding hole the main body  10 . 
     C. A boss  46 , integral to the standoff  40 , defines a coaxial hole  47  passing there through. 
     D. Other components of the standoff assembly are a release cam  36 , a spring  38 , and a spring retainer  50 . The standoff assembly has two alternative embodiments: the first is for use with the optional clamp arm  16 ; the other is for use when the clamp arm  16  is not employed. 
     E. If the clamp arm  16  is not used, a lag screw  80  (see FIG. 3) passes through the hole  47  to attach the main body  10  to the sub-fascia  21 . If the clamp arm  16  is used, then a spring  38  is placed over the boss  46 , and the spring retainer  50  is passed through the spring  38  and the hole  47 , and is pivotally anchored to a cam lever  36  on the far side of the main body  10 . 
     F. The purpose of the spring  38  is to maintain tension or force against the standoff  40  and the spring retainer  50 , in turn applying pressure to the sub-fascia  21  and the hook  60  on the clamp arm  16 . When the cam lever  36  is activated, the spring  38  is compressed and the forces against the sub-fascia  21  and the hook  60  on the clamp arm  16  are removed, allowing the operator to easily release the hook  60  from the batten  27 . 
     Main Body Detail: 
     The main body  10  may be comprised of a “U” or “L” shaped material so long as there are at least two surfaces that are perpendicular to one another and form an outside corner or corners. 
     The main body holes  54  are positioned such that the pin  43  on the standoff  40  goes into an upper one of the holes  54  and a lag screw or the spring retainer is passed through a second lower one of the holes  54 . Holes  54  are provided at uniformly spaced intervals along the main body  10  to allow adjustment for varying sub-fascia depths for proper operation and positioning of the swing arm  12 . Below the bottom one of the adjusting holes  54  in the main body  10 , a pin  56  is on the main body  10  for the mounting of the swing arm  12 . Below the swing arm pin  56  another pin  58  is on the main body  10  for the attachment of the locking arm  14 . 
     The main body  10  and the standoff  40  may be connected directly to the sub-fascia  21  via a lag or similar type screw or bolt  80  (FIG.  3 ). The use of a lag screw to attach the main body  10  to the subfascia  21  eliminates the need for the optional clamp arm  16 , the spring  38 , the retainer  50  and the cam lever  36 . The main body  10  is an elongated shaft or strut to allow for the various depths of sub-fascia  21  that may be encountered. 
     Swing Arm Detail: 
     The swing arm  12  is sufficiently long to allow for soffit material that is up to 24 inches in width. On one end of the arm  12  there is a stop  62  upon which the soffit material  23  rests. For the swing arm  12  to be adjustable, a plurality of adjusting holes  64  are provided at uniform intervals along the swing arm, as seen in FIG.  1 . The holes  64  are for the pivotal attachment of the swing arm  12  to the main body  10  and to the lock arm  14 . Depending upon the width of the soffit material  23  being installed, the appropriate holes  64  are selected for assembly from job to job. The holes  64  start from the end of the swing arm having the stop  62  and are spaced toward the end away from the stop, and there are, for example,  25  adjusting holes  64 . The adjustable connections between the main body  10 , the locking arm  14  and the swing arm  12  allows adjustment for soffit material widths from 12 to 24 inches. 
     Locking Arm Detail: 
     The locking arm  14  has a pivot pin  66  at one end. Proximate to the opposite end of the locking arm  14  is a sideways “J” slot  68  having a short leg nearly perpendicular to the long axis of the locking arm. 
     Clamp Arm Detail: 
     The clamp arm  16  is an optional element, and is described here as an element of a preferred embodiment of the invention. On the distal end is provided an adjusting screw  70  with a hook  60  attached. The hook  60  adjusts as it follows the threads of the adjusting screw as the adjusting screw is manually turned at the knob  71 . This allows for the adjustment of the position of the hook  60  along the clamp arm  16  to accommodate the varying positions of batten  27 . On the other end of the clamp arm  16  there is provided a threaded pin  72  and lock nut for pivotal mounting to the top of the standoff  40 , to accommodate varying roof slopes. 
     Assembly: 
     The swing arm  12  and the locking arm  14  are pivotally connected via a hole  64 , a pin  66  and a retainer pin. The swing arm  12  is pivotally attached to the lower portion of the main body  10  via a hole  64 , a projecting pin  56  and a retainer pin (such as a cotter pin, inserted laterally through the pin  56 ). Swing arm  12  is mounted via holes  64  so as to support varying widths of the soffit material  23 . The locking arm  14  is pivotally attached to the main body  10  via the J-slot  68 , a pin  58  and a retainer pin. 
     The pin  43  on the standoff  40  is aligned to the desired one of the holes  54  in the main body  10  for the depth of the sub-fascia to be worked with, and the standoff  40  is attached to the main body  10  with a retainer pin (e.g., a cotter pin). 
     If the clamp arm  16  is to be used, it is pivotally attached at the hole  42  in the standoff  40  using threaded pin  72  and a lock nut, so that while the apparatus is in use, the main body  10  maintains a position parallel to the sub-fascia. When the clamp arm  16  is used, the spring  38  is placed over the boss  46  and the spring retainer  50  is passed through the spring  38  and the hole  47  in the boss  46  and through one of the holes  54  of the main body  10 ; the cam lever  36  is then pivotally anchored to the spring retainer  50  with a retainer pin such as a cotter pin. 
     Using The Apparatus: 
     Once the assembly has been completed for the desired soffit material width, and the depth of the sub-fascia, the apparatus is attached to the sub-fascia. Positioning of the apparatus is such that it is about the center of where the soffit material will be installed. If the clamping arm  16  is used, the hook  60  is placed over the temporary batten  27 , and the apparatus is allowed to hang free. The cam lever  36  is rotated to release the spring  38  and the spring retainer  50  engages the sub-fascia  21 . The hook  60  sinks into the batten  27  and the apparatus is ready to be loaded. 
     Initially, the locking arm  14  should not be in the locked position, and the swing arm  12  should be hanging down from the eave (FIG.  4 ). The soffit material  23  is loaded such that the length of the material  23  is about centered on the stop  62  on the swing arm  12 . The soffit material  23  is rotated toward the eave until the short leg of the J-slot  68  drops over pin  58  of the main body  10 . The soffit material  23  thus is swung in position for final attachment to the structure, as seen in FIGS. 5-8. Once the soffit material  23  has been installed the apparatus can be moved to the next location. 
     The practice of the invention may now be described. Broadly summarized, the use of the apparatus begins by pivoting the swing arm  12  into an open position (FIGS. 3,  4 ). The apparatus is temporarily attached to the subfascia  21 , and the segment of soffit  23  is placed in a balanced position upon the swing arm  12  (as suggested in FIG.  5 ). With a single smooth motion (as the J-slot  68  in the lock arm  14  slides along the main body  10  on pivot pin  58 ), the outside or proximate end of the swing arm  12  is pulled down, levering the distal end of the swing arm upward as the swing arm pivots about its connection with the main body  10 . When the J-slot  68  slides on pin  58  to the short leg of the slot, it drops into place to lock the lock arm  14  against further movement. The lock arm  14 , swing arm  12  and main body  10  thus are locked into a triangular configuration, with the swing arm  12  bearing the soffit material  23  having achieved a generally horizontal position (as suggested in FIG.  6 ). The soffit material  23  is within about ½ inch from the nail rail on the framed wall of the structure. The apparatus holds the soffit  23  in a generally horizontal position while the user manipulates the soffit into final position and nails both ends in place (FIGS.  7  and  8 ), and then proceeds to nail the entire soffit along its length into place. The apparatus maintains position until the user moves it to initiate installation of the next segment of soffit. 
     Further operational detail for the embodiment utilizing the spring-biasing function of the standoff assembly is provided by making combined reference to the drawing figures. There are four basic stages in using this embodiment of the apparatus. In the first stage, the apparatus is fastened to the subfascia  21 . In the second stage, the soffit  23  is placed on the swing arm  12 . Thirdly, the swing arm  12  is pivoted to raise the soffit  23  into place. In the final stage, the apparatus holds the soffit  23  steadily in place until the soffit is fastened to the framing. 
     Reference is made to FIG.  4 . The first step is to place the clamp arm  16  along the roof  25  so that the hook  60  engages the batten  27 . The cam lever  36  is rotated and releases the spring  38  to apply pressure to the spring retainer  50  and in turn to the subfascia  21 . The bias of the spring  38  pushes the standoff  40  away from the subfascia  21 , thereby drawing the clamp arm  16  downward parallel with the roof  25  to hold the hook  60  securely against the batten  27 . The apparatus thus is clamped against the subfascia  21  and the batten  27  by the spring action transmitted by the clamp arm  16 , as suggested in FIG.  5 . Continuing reference to FIG. 5, the soffit  23  is then placed in a reasonably balanced position upon the lower section of the swing arm  12 . The soffit material  23  can balance on the swing arm  12 , and be steadied by the user while the apparatus is actuated. 
     The top section of the swing arm  12  is then pulled downward. This causes the swing arm  12  to pivot about its fixed pivot pinned connection with the main body  10 , resulting in the raising of the lower section of the swing arm  12  which bears the soffit  23 . Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the raising of the lower section of the swing arm  12  thus swings the soffit  23  into a generally horizontal position for installation. The J-slot  68  in the lock arm  14  slides along the pivot pin connecting the lock arm  14  to the body, allowing the lock arm to translate as well as pivot with respect to the main body  10  while the swing arm  12  is rotating. Lock arm  14  and swing arm  12  also pivot about their mutually connecting pivot pin. When the short angled leg of the J-slot  68  reaches the end of its translational movement, it drops onto the main body pin  58 , which effectively locks the lock arm  14  in position with respect to the main body  10  and the swing arm  12 . Thus locked in place, the stable triangular configuration of the lock arm, swing arm and main body holds the swing arm and thus the soffit material  23  in horizontal installation position as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. The soffit  23  rests upon the swing arm  12 , but may still need to be slidably positioned for nailed installation. 
     Combined reference is made to FIGS. 7 and 8. The user then lifts the soffit  23  the short distance up off the swing arm  12  and slides the soffit toward the wall. The soffit  23  can then be fastened to the nail rail and the subfascia  21  (or other framing elements) generally according to known methods. The apparatus may be removed from its temporary position upon the structure by rotating the cam lever  36 , thus compressing the spring  38  and allowing the hook  60  to be lifted and disengaged from the batten  27 . The apparatus may then be moved to a new location to begin a new installation cycle. 
     An alternative embodiment employs a standoff  40  that is temporarily screwed to the subfascia  21  to support the apparatus in place. The four basic stages of operation, as described herein above, are the same for this alternative embodiment, except that stage  1  is accomplished in a different manner to provide for more universal application. The overall general function and operation of the alternative embodiment thus is substantially similar to the previously described embodiment, and similar parts are utilized, except where hereafter noted. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, it is seen that in this alternative embodiment the apparatus is placed in the open position, with the lower section of the swing arm  12  hanging downward. The standoff  40  is pressed against the vertical face of the subfascia  21 . A power tool is employed to drive a screw  80  into the subfascia  21 , thereby temporarily securing the standoff  40  to the subfascia to maintain the apparatus in position for use. Once the soffit  23  is nailed or screwed into proper place, the swing arm  12  can be released by the user&#39;s unlocking the locking arm  14 . The swing arm  12  can then be rotated to lower its distal end. The power tool is then used to back the screw out of the subfascia  21 , and the apparatus is moved to a new location where the process is repeated. 
     A person of ordinary skill will note that by providing a series of holes  64  along a major portion of the length of the swing arm  12  and pins on locking arm  14  and main body  10 , and by utilizing removable pins to connect the arms and main body together, the apparatus can be adapted to meet various size needs by planned placement of the keeper pins in appropriate holes to assemble the apparatus. 
     The apparatus offers a safer means for hanging soffit. The apparatus requires only one individual to operate, thus eliminating the need for two people to be on a scaffolding or ladders at the same time. One person using the apparatus can thus perform the work previously performed by two persons. Moreover, the apparatus allows the job to be performed faster, because only one person has to position himself, and because the soffit is held steadily in place until the task of nailing is finished—thus eliminating the human errors that may occur when one person holds while another person nails. 
     The entire disclosures of all patents, and publications cited above are hereby incorporated by reference.