Patent Publication Number: US-10774551-B1

Title: Clamping device for drywall repair

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to patching drywall holes and, more particularly, to a clamping device for drywall repair. 
     Drywall is a common construction material used in both new and used residential and business applications. After drywall is installed, damage can occur from a number of sources. For example, a door handle may poke a hole into an existing drywall installation. 
     Conventional systems for patching such holes involve placing some sort of backing material inside the hole. The backing material needs to be glued or otherwise secured to the inside of the damaged drywall area. The backing material drys, a drywall patching material (often in a paste form) is applied, sanded, finished, etc. This process can be difficult and requires the use of tools. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for an easier method of patching drywall holes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a drywall repair device comprises: a base comprising a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the front surface comprises a first side and a second side; a clamping member coupled to the base and configured to clamp drywall in between the clamping member and the first side of the front surface of the base; and an adhesive adhered to the second side of the front surface of the base. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of attaching a patch to drywall comprises the steps of: providing a plurality of drywall repair devices each comprising: a base comprising a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the front surface comprises a first side and a second side; a clamping member coupled to the base on the first side of the front surface; and an adhesive adhered to the second side of the front surface of the base; coupling the plurality of drywall repair devices to an inner edge of an opening of a drywall by clamping the drywall in between the clamping member and the first side of the front surface of the base; and adhering a drywall patch to the adhesives. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, shown in use; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, shown in use; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     The present invention includes an exterior clamp slidably coupled to a base. The clamp includes teeth that interlocks with a locking pawl, allowing the clamp to slide in but not out. The clamp coupled to the base creates an H-shape. 
     The present invention includes an adjustable clip to felicitate professional drywall repairs. Due to the adjustability, the present invention may be used with different drywall thicknesses. The present invention further uses a pawl for a one directional lock so that once it is adjusted for a specific drywall thickness it locks in place and won&#39;t come off or dis-adjust. The present invention may further include an adhesive bed to adhere the new drywall piece to the drywall without the need of power tools or screws. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the present invention includes a drywall repair device. The drywall repair device includes a base  18  having a front surface  11  and a rear surface  13 . The front surface  11  includes a first side  15  and a second side  17 . A clamping member  14 ,  19  is coupled to the base  18  at the first side  15 . The clamping member  14 ,  19  is configured to clamp drywall  10  in between the clamping member  14 ,  19  and the first side  15  of the front surface  11  of the base  18 . An adhesive  22  is adhered to the second side  17  of the front surface  11  of the base  18 . 
     The clamping member  14 ,  19  includes a vertical member  19  and a horizontal member  14 . The vertical member  19  includes a plurality of teeth  20 . The vertical member  19  runs through a slot of the base  18 . A pawl  26  is coupled to the base  18  and disposed in the slot. The plurality of teeth  20  interlock with a pawl  26  of the base  18 . The pawl  26  allows the vertical member  19  to be pushed inward but prevents the vertical member  19  from coming back out of the base  18 . A guide member  24  protrudes from the rear surface of the base  18  at the slot and guides the vertical member  19  through the slot and prevents the vertical member  19  from pivoting and dislodging from the pawl  26 . Bridge ribs  32  protrude from opposing edges of the rear surface along a length of the base  18 , providing structural integrity. Lateral stops  30  protrude from opposing sides of a proximal end of the vertical member  19 . 
     A method of attaching a patch  12  to drywall  10  may include the following steps. Provide a plurality of drywall repair devices described above. Couple the plurality of drywall repair devices to an inner edge of an opening of a drywall  10  by clamping the drywall  10  in between the clamping member  14 ,  19  and the first side  15  of the front surface  11  of the base  18 . Coupling the plurality of drywall repair devices to the inner edge may include placing the inner edge of the drywall  10  in between the horizontal member  14  and the first side  15  of the front surface  11  of the base  18  and pressing the horizontal member  14  inward towards the drywall  10 . The vertical member  19  is pushed through the slot and the plurality of teeth  20  interlock with the pawl  26 . Remove an adhesive cover  16  from the adhesive  22 . Adhere a drywall patch  12  to the adhesives  22 . Apply a spackle over the drywall patch  12  and the drywall  10 . 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.