Patent Publication Number: US-2021180348-A1

Title: Joist Alignment Tool

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/948,596 filed on Dec. 16, 2019. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to joist alignment tool. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a tool having a pair of perpendicularly aligned channels allowing joists to be secured and aligned during assembly of a frame. 
     When framing walls and decks, various joists, boards, and other lumber must be properly aligned before being secured together. This often requires multiple individuals to ensure that the boards are properly aligned. Unfortunately, this often represents an undesirable usage of manpower on a worksite, causing the overall task to take longer than desired to complete. Additionally, human error can still result in uneven alignment of frame elements, which may require the entire process to be restarted, resulting in further inefficiencies. Furthermore, boards and joists must be spaced evenly when assembling a frame, however, such even spacing can be difficult to achieve without assistance. Therefore, a device that can easily and efficiently align, space, and support a frame during assembly is desired. 
     In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing joist alignment tools. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of joist alignment tools now present in the known art, the present invention provides a joist alignment tool wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when aligning and securing various frame members together during frame assembly. 
     The present system comprises a first planar base perpendicularly affixed to a second planar base at a junction. A first pair of sidewalls extend from opposing sides of the first planar base defining a first channel therebetween. A second pair of sidewalls extend from opposing sides of the second planar base defining a second channel therebetween. An opening is disposed through one of the second pair of sidewalls at the junction between the first planar base and the second planar base. A first aperture is disposed through one of the first pair of sidewalls, and a second aperture is disposed through one of the second pair of sidewalls. In some embodiments, the second aperture is coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the first channel. A first clamp is engaged with the first aperture and is configured to frictionally engage an object disposed within the first channel. A second clamp is engaged with the second aperture and is configured to frictionally engage an object disposed within the second channel. 
     In some embodiments, the first planar base is affixed at a midpoint of the second planar base. In another embodiment, each of the first pair of sidewalls are affixed to one of the second pair of sidewalls along opposing ends of the opening. In other embodiments, the first pair of sidewalls extend orthogonally from the first planar base. In yet another embodiment, the first planar base is coplanar with the second planar base. In some embodiments, the first and second clamps comprise a threaded bolt having a handle perpendicularly affixed thereto, wherein the threaded bolt is configured to engage with interior threading disposed through each of the first and second apertures. In another embodiment, a neck extends from one sidewall of each of the first and second pairs of sidewalls about each of the first and second apertures. In other embodiments, the neck further comprises interior threading configured to engage complementary threading disposed on each of the first and second clamps. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the joist alignment tool. 
         FIG. 2  shows an end view of an embodiment of the joist alignment tool. 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the joist alignment tool. 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the joist alignment tool in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the joist alignment tool. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an exploded view of an embodiment of the joist alignment tool. The joist alignment tool  11  comprises a first planar base  12  perpendicularly affixed to a second planar base  13 . In the shown embodiment, the first planar base  12  is disposed along a midpoint of the second planar base  13  forming a substantially T-shaped device. A first pair of sidewalls  15  extend orthogonally from opposing lateral sides of the first planar base  12  defining a first channel  16  therebetween. Similarly, a second pair of sidewalls  17  extends orthogonally from opposing lateral sides of the second planar base  13  defining a second channel  18  therebetween. In some embodiments, the first and second pairs of sidewalls  15 ,  17  are contemplated to be integral and unitary with the first and second planar bases  12 ,  13 , respectively. The first and second planar bases  12 ,  13  and the first and second pairs of sidewalls  15 ,  17  further comprise a rigid material, such that the joist alignment tool  11  does not deform during use. The first and second channels  16 ,  18  are dimensioned to removably secure joists or other lumber therein, such that a user can easily and efficiently align and secure joists together at a right angle when building a frame. 
     An opening  19  is disposed along one sidewall of the second pair of sidewalls  17 , such that the first channel  16  is open and continuous with the second channel  18 . In this manner, a user can readily secure a pair of perpendicular joist members within each channel  16 ,  18  together by affixing one or more fasteners through each joist member through the opening  19 . In some embodiments, the first pair of sidewalls  15  are integral and unitary with one sidewall of the second pair of sidewalls  17  on opposing sides of the opening  19 , such that the joist alignment tool  11  is provided additional structural integrity. Furthermore, this arrangement minimizes flexion of the first and second pairs of sidewalls  15 ,  17  during use when a joist or other lumber is secured within each channel  16 ,  18 . 
     A first clamp  22  is removably securable to the first pair of sidewalls  15  via a first aperture  20  disposed through one sidewall of the first pair of sidewalls  15 . Similarly, a second clamp  24  is removably securable to the second pair of sidewalls  17  via a second aperture  21  disposed through one sidewall of the second pair of sidewalls  17 . The first and second clamps  22 ,  24  are configured to extend into the first and second channels  16 ,  18  respectively to frictionally engage a joist therein, such that the joist is secured between each clamp  22 ,  24  and an opposing sidewall of the first and second pairs of sidewalls  15 ,  17  respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, each clamp  22 ,  24  comprises a threaded rod  26  perpendicularly affixed to a handle  27  along a midpoint thereof, wherein the threaded rod  26  engages threads disposed within each aperture  20 ,  21 . The handle  27  provides a gripping surface, allowing the user to selectively tighten or loosen each clamp  22 ,  24  by hand. In this manner, supplemental tools, such as wrenches, are not necessary to secure the joist within the first and second channels  16 ,  18 , as the forces applied via supplemental tools can damage or split the joist. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown an end view of an embodiment of the joist alignment tool. The first clamp  22  adjustably extends into the first channel  16  as desired to secure a joist therein, such that the joist is frictionally engaged by the first clamp  22  and a sidewall of the first pair of sidewalls  15  opposite the aperture  20 . Similarly, a second joist can be secured within the second channel via a second clamp inserted through the second aperture  21  within one sidewall of the second pair of sidewalls  17 . In the shown embodiment, the second aperture  21  is coaxially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the first channel  16 , thereby ensuring that any forces applied by the second clamp via the second aperture  21  to secure a joist within the second channel are focused along the longitudinal axis of the first channel  16 . In this manner, a user ensures that each joist member is retained at least along a point of contact between the first and second joist members within the first channel  16  and the second channel, respectively, such that the user can easily and efficiently fasten each joist member together. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the joist alignment tool. In the illustrated embodiment, a neck  28  extends from a sidewall of the first pair of sidewalls  15  opposite the first channel  16  about the first aperture  20 . Similarly, another neck  28  extends from a sidewall of the second pair of sidewalls opposite the second channel about the second aperture. The following description is focused on the neck  28  as it relates to the first channel  16  and the first pair of sidewalls  15  for brevity, however this description can be similarly applied to the neck  28  disposed on one of the second pair of sidewalls. The neck  28  functionally extends the length of the first aperture  20 , thereby providing additional support and stability to the threaded rod of the first clamp  22  during use. In the shown embodiment, complementary threading on the threaded rod engages interior threading  29  extending through the neck  28  and the first aperture  20  to allow the user to selectively extend the threaded rod into the first channel  16  to clamp a joist therein. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the joist alignment tool in use. In one use, a joist  23  is inserted into each of the first and second channels  16 ,  18 , such that the joists  23  are perpendicularly aligned. Once the pair of joists  23  are positioned as desired relative to each other, the first clamp  22  and the second clamp  24  can then be actuated to insert the threaded rods into the first and second channels  16 ,  18  to frictionally engage each joist  23 . In this manner, the user can retain the joists  23  in perpendicular alignment when assembling a frame until the joists  23  are secured together. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second pairs of sidewalls  15 ,  17  comprise a height less than that of each joist  23 , such that a user can secure a fastener through each joist  23  above the sidewalls  15 ,  17 . Multiple joist alignment tools can be utilized in tandem to assemble an entire frame before securing any joists  23  together via fasteners, thereby minimizing the risk of mistakes that would necessitate disassembling the frame. 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.