Patent Publication Number: US-7594340-B2

Title: Template apparatus

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This Application claims priority based upon Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/939,787 filed on May 23, 2007. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to the construction of wall frames, and more particularly, to a template for constructing wall frames. 
   2. Prior Art 
   The use of frame walls, often referred to as “stud walls,” is universally known. Standard building materials, such as two by fours and two by sixes, are placed vertically on a bottom plate at the bottom of the wall frame and with a top plate at the top of the wall frame. Studs are placed vertically between the base plate and the top plate and are spaced from one another at a predetermined distance, often times on sixteen inch centers. However, the spacing of the studs may be more or less than sixteen inches on centers. Usually, the building materials for wall frames are purchased with the desired length but, if not, the building materials must be cut to the desired length. 
   Wall frames are frequently partially constructed in a horizontal position and then are lifted to a vertical position. In the past. the spacing of the building materials has been done individually by measurement. 
   OBJECTS 
   The objects of this invention are to provide a template apparatus for the construction of a wall frame that provides and permits as follows:
         1. Accurate placement of building materials and retention of such building materials without measurement.   2. Retention of the building materials in place for ready assembly of the wall frames.   3. Construction of a wall frame quickly and accurately.   4. Construction of a wall frame by only one person.       

   These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from further review of the following specification and drawings. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A template apparatus for the construction of a wall frame includes a base section and a template section. The base section includes a plurality of base units and includes a plurality of base units each base unit having an upper end forming an apex. Journal plates each with a journal are located at the apex at each one of the two ends of the template apparatus. A support shaft is mounted to rotate in the journals. The template section also include longitudinal members secured to the support shaft. The template section further includes alignment pins and clamps for holding a wall frame in position on the template section for the wall frame to be secured together. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NUMERALS 
   
     
       
         
             
             
           
             
                 
             
             
               NUMERAL 
               DESCRIPTION 
             
             
                 
             
           
          
             
               11 
               Template Section 
             
             
               15 
               Base Units 
             
             
               17 
               Wall Frames 
             
             
               19 
               Legs 
             
             
               21 
               Apex 
             
             
               23 
               Cross Members 
             
             
               25 
               Foot 
             
             
               26 
               Foot Member 
             
             
               27 
               Wheel 
             
             
               28 
               Foot Plate 
             
             
               29 
               Journal Plate 
             
             
               31 
               Journal 
             
             
               33 
               Support Shaft 
             
             
               35 
               Lock Pin 
             
             
               37 
               Building Materials 
             
             
               39 
               Longitudinal Members 
             
             
               41 
               Alignment Members 
             
             
               43 
               Alignment Pins 
             
             
               45 
               Container 
             
             
               47 
               Spring 
             
             
               49 
               Upper End 
             
             
               51 
               Stop 
             
             
               53 
               Top End 
             
             
               55 
               Lower End 
             
             
               57 
               Bottom Plate 
             
             
               59 
               Top Plate 
             
             
               61 
               Clamps 
             
             
               63 
               Studes 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of the template apparatus with the template section generally situated in a horizontal position. 
       FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of the template apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  but with the template section tilted. 
       FIG. 3  is a is a pictorial view similar to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  but with a wall under construction on the template section. 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevation of an alignment pin with the internal operation of the alignment pin exposed. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The template apparatus, which might also be termed a form or a jig, has two major sections, namely, a template section  11  and a base section  13 . The base section  13  includes multiple and generally identical base units  15  substantially equally spaced from one another. In  FIG. 1  four base units  15  are shown. The number of base units  15  can be increased and decreased depending upon the size of the template apparatus and the size of the wall frame  17  ( FIG. 3 ) to be constructed in the template section  11 . 
   Each base unit  15  includes two legs  19  generally situated at an apex  21  with an angle between the two legs  19 . A cross member  23  is located in each base unit opposite from the apex  21 . The cross member  23  is generally parallel to the ground on which the template apparatus is located. At the foot  25  of each leg  19 , a foot member  26  is located. The foot member  26  may be a wheel  27  or may be a foot plate  28 . If the foot member  26  is a wheel  27 , the wheel  27  requires a lock to prevent the template apparatus from rolling when in use. Wheels which can be locked are commercially available. Wheels  27  which can be locked so as to prevent rotation of the wheels  27  are clearly superior to foot plates  28 . However, the wheels may be replaced by foot plates  28 . The wheels  27  which can be locked to prevent rolling, are obviously superior to foot plates  28 . 
   At both ends of each base section  13  t the apex  21 , at the top of each base section  13 , a journal plate  29  is located. All of the journal plates  29  are secured in a vertical position. All journal plates  29  are secured to both legs  19  of the base section  13 . Both journal plates  29  extend above the apex  21  and away from the ground and a cross member  23 . A journal  31  is located in each journal plate  29  directly above the top of the apex  21  and generally above the center of the journal plate  29 . 
   The template section  11  is mounted on a support shaft  33  which is mounted in the journals  31  in the journal plates  29 . The template section  11  is supported and rotates on the base section  13  by means of the support shaft  33 . The support shaft  33  may be locked in any desired position by means of a lock pin  35 . As a result, the template section  11  may be locked in any one of an infinite number of positions which may be horizontal or tilted in either direction to a wide variety of degrees to permit the most desirable access to building materials  37  retained in the template section  11  for the construction of a wall frame 
   The template section  11  has a plurality, preferably four, as shown in  FIG. 1 , of longitudinal members  39  which are secured, generally at the center point of each longitudinal member  39 , to the support shaft  33 . The longitudinal members  39  are generally equally spaced from one another and are parallel and aligned with one another. 
   The template section  11  has three alignment members  41  of which two are located on opposite sides of the support shaft  33  and are both generally parallel to the support shaft  33  and are also generally equally spaced from the support shaft  33  but on opposite sides of the support shaft  33 . The third alignment member  41  is located substantially directly above the support shaft  33 . 
   The alignment members  41  and the support shaft  33  have alignment pins  43  mounted on them. When the template section  11  is generally in a horizontal position, the alignment pins  43  are generally vertically oriented. 
   The alignment pins  43  on both the support shaft  33  and the alignment members  41  can be either depressed or rotated over so as no longer to be functional as to the template section  11 . The alignment pins  43 , which can be depressed, ( FIG. 4 ) are the most desirable. 
   Each alignment pin  43  is placed in a container  45 . A spring  47 , beneath the alignment pin  43 , forces the alignment pin  43  out of the upper end of the container  45  but only up to a stop  51  on the alignment pin  43  but only up to the top of a slot  48  in the container  45 . The stop  51  located horizontally across each alignment pin  43  and in the slot  48  prevents further movement of each alignment pin  43  further out of its respective container  45 . Pressure applied to any alignment pin  43  forces such alignment pin  43  back into its respective container  45 . Any alignment pin  43  forced back into its respective container  45  is eliminated from usage when in such container  45 . Some alignment pins  43  may be fixed and not be spring loaded. This is possible when there is a set pattern for the wall frame  17 . 
   In  FIG. 4 , an alignment pin  43  is shown in a container  45  while also having the operation of the alignment pin  43  within its respective container  45 . The alignment pin  43  is a hollow cylindrical member which slides from the container  45  which is also hollow and cylindrical. The top end  53  of the container  45  is open to permit its respective alignment pin to move in and out of the container  45 . The lower end  55  of the container  45  is closed. The spring  47  is located between the lower end  55  of the container and extends into the alignment pin  43 . 
   Building materials  37 , such as two by fours and two by sixes, are placed between the alignment pins  43 . The alignment pins  43  which are selected depends upon the desired spacing of the building materials  37 . Measuring is not necessary as the alignment pins  43  control the spacing. 
   With the building materials  37  in place, the bottom plate  57  and the top plate  59  are placed on the longitudinal members  39 . Clamps  61  are located in the outer ends of both longitudinalt members  39  and force the bottom plate  57  and the top plate  59  against the studs  63 . Alignment pins  41  are spaced for studs  63 . Alignment pins  41  are spaced for studs  63  and are recessed for doors, windows as well as other openings. 
   Once the wall frame  17  is secured within the template section  11 , the building materials  37  can be secured into a wall frame  17 . Rotation of the template section  11  in permits conveniently securing the wall frame  17  together with a proper and square alignment. 
   While a preferred embodiment is shown, it should be understood that the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations in the described template are possible within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention.