Patent Publication Number: US-7210676-B1

Title: Crown molding clamp

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a clamp to facilitate installing crown molding along the periphery of the ceiling of a room. 
   2. Prior Art 
   When crown molding is installed on the walls of a room at the ceiling, usually each piece of the molding is long and therefore somewhat flexible, preferably long enough to extend completely across the wall to which it is to be nailed, or substantially so. Because of its length the crown molding is difficult for one worker to handle without assistance as the nailing proceeds from one wall stud to the next across the wall. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a novel crown molding clamp which enables one worker, without assistance from another, to more readily affix long pieces of crown molding along the walls of a room at the ceiling. The present clamp is adjustable to fit crown molding of different sizes and configurations. 
   In the presently preferred embodiment, the clamp of the present invention has a fixed piece with a front wall for engaging the ceiling and for selective engagement with the top front lip of the crown molding from in front, as well as a bottom wall for engaging the bottom rear lip of the crown molding from below and for engaging the room wall behind the crown molding, and adjustable pieces behind the front wall of the fixed piece which are selectively adjustable to engage the ceiling and the top front lip of the crown molding, depending on the size of the crown molding. 
   A principal object of this invention is to provide a novel and advantageous clamp for use in installing crown molding on the walls of a room at the ceiling. 
   Another object of this invention is to provide such a clamp which is adjustable to fit different sizes of crown molding. 
   Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of two presently preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a clamp in accordance with a first embodiment of this invention holding one end of a long piece of crown molding in position to be nailed to a stud in the room wall just behind; 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the clamp in  FIG. 1  with the crown molding omitted for clarity and the room wall behind shown in cross-section; 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevation of the clamp and crown molding shown in  FIG. 1  with the crown molding against the ceiling and an adjoining wall of the room; 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the  FIG. 3  assembly, showing the room walls in cross-section; 
       FIG. 5  is a vertical cross-section taken along the line  5 — 5  in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  and showing the clamp adjusted for use with a slightly smaller crown molding; 
       FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIGS. 5 and 6  and showing a second embodiment of the present clamp for use with an even smaller crown molding; 
       FIG. 8  is a horizontal section taken along the line  8 — 8  in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of two adjustable pieces common to both embodiments of the present clamp; 
       FIG. 10  is a horizontal cross-section showing the four wall of a room on which crown molding pieces are to be installed from corner to corner in the sequence indicated by the arrows, starting at corner A; and 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view from inside the room showing the first crown molding piece ready to be nailed to the wall behind. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Before explaining the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the particular arrangements shown and described since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1–4 , the first embodiment of the present clamp is adjusted for use in installing relatively large sized crown molding  10  which has a forwardly projecting, horizontal top lip  11  at the front ( FIG. 5 ) with a flat horizontal top face  12  for engaging the ceiling  13  of the room except in the vicinity of a corner of the room at each end of the crown molding, such as the corner A in  FIG. 1  at the right end of the crown molding where adjoining side walls  18  and  25  of the room meet. The top front lip  11  has a flat vertical front face  14  extending down from its top face  12  at a right-angled top front corner  15  ( FIG. 1 ). The crown molding has an oppositely located, downwardly projecting, bottom lip  16  at the back which presents a flat vertical rear face  17  for engaging a wall  18  of the room which extends up to the ceiling  13 , and a flat horizontal bottom face  19  extending forward from the rear face  17  and making a right-angled lower back corner  20  with it. The crown molding has a wide bridging segment  21  extending diagonally between its bottom rear lip  16  and its top front lip  11  and integral with both. The bridging segment has a flat back face  22  and a front face  23  of any suitable configuration to provide the appearance desired. 
   At its right end in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4  the crown molding  10  presents a triangular end segment  10 ′ ( FIG. 3 ) which, as best seen in  FIG. 4 , inclines at a 45 degree angle rearward from the main body of the crown molding to the room corner A where room walls  18  and  25  intersect. This end segment  10   a  has a flat top face  12 ′ ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ) which inclines downward from the horizontal top face  12  of the main body of the crown molding to an end corner of the crown molding where it presents a relatively wide, flat, vertical rear face  10   c  ( FIG. 4 ) for engaging the room wall  18  at the room corner A and a narrower, flat, vertical side face  10   d  ( FIGS. 1 and 4 ) for engaging the adjoining room wall  25  at this corner of the room. 
   It is to be understood that the clamp of the present invention may be used with crown molding of conventional configuration lacking the triangular end segment shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4  and instead having a simple mitered end face to engage a similar mitered end face on the neighboring end of the crown molding on the adjoining room wall at that particular corner of the room. 
   To start the installation of the crown molding, a worker places a wood block  27  against the room wall  18  a suitable distance down from the ceiling at the location of the first stud (not shown) in this wall from the room corner A. The worker positions the crown molding  10  up against the ceiling  13  in front of block  27  and holds the clamp of the present invention in front of the crown molding, Then the worker hammers a nail N through the present clamp, the crown molding, and the wood block  27  and into the room wall  18  to affix this end of the crown molding to this room wall just below the ceiling. Then the worker moves the clamp from one wall stud to the next and nails it to each stud in succession across wall  18  to complete the installation of this particular crown molding piece. Then the worker proceeds in like manner across the other walls from corners B, C and D, and back to corner A, as indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 10 . 
   In  FIGS. 1–5  the clamp of the present invention comprises a fixed piece F having vertically elongated, generally flat, rectangular front wall  28  ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ) joined integrally to a rearwardly projecting, horizontal bottom wall  29 , a front adjustable piece  31  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) positioned directly behind the front wall  28  and slidably adjustable vertically with respect to it, an intermediate adjustable piece  32  directly behind the front adjustable piece  31  and slidably received in the fixed piece F for selective vertical adjustment with respect to the fixed piece and the front adjustable piece  31 , a rear adjustable piece  30  slidably received in the fixed piece F directly behind the intermediate adjustable piece  32  and slidably adjustable vertically with respect to the fixed piece F and the other adjustable pieces  31  and  32 , and a set screw  33  for securing the rear adjustable piece  30  of the clamp in the position to which it has been adjusted. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the fixed piece F of the clamp along the entire vertical length of its front wall  28  has rearwardly projecting flanges  35  and  36  extending rearward from the opposite side edges of the front wall. These flanges have respective inturned rounded lips  37  and  38  on the back ( FIG. 2 ) behind a longitudinal groove or channel  39  in the fixed piece F between its flanges  35  and  36  behind its front wall. Groove  39  snugly but slidably receives the front adjustable piece  31  of the clamp. The fixed piece F has a flat horizontal top face  28 ′ ( FIG. 1 ) at its front wall  28  and flanges  35  and  36 . 
   Near its lower end the fixed piece F is formed with a vertically thick segment  40  which joins its front wall  28  to its rearwardly protruding bottom wall  29 . Groove  39  extends down through the connecting segment  40  of the fixed piece F of the clamp, and this connecting segment also presents a vertical rectangular opening  41  immediately behind this groove so that together they define a single opening passing down through connecting segment  40 , as best seen in  FIG. 2   
   The front wall  28  of the fixed piece F is formed with three vertically aligned, nail holes  42 ,  43  and  44 . Below the nail holes the front wall  28  carries a forwardly projecting annular boss  45  in which a screw-threaded hole  45   a  is formed ( FIG. 5 ) for threadedly receiving the set screw  33 . The set screw-receiving hole  45   a  is vertically aligned with the nail holes  42  and  43  and it opens into the groove  39  and the rectangular opening  41  in the connecting segment  40  of fixed piece F. 
   As shown in  FIG. 9 , the front adjustable piece  31  of the clamp has the rectangular cross-sectional shape shown in  FIG. 2  throughout its vertical extent except for a forwardly projecting horizontal flange  46  on its lower end. The front adjustable piece is snugly but slidably received in the back groove or channel  39  in the fixed piece F of the clamp, including the lower portion of this groove which opens into the rectangular opening  41  behind in the connecting segment  40  of the fixed piece F. The front adjustable piece  31  has a lower nail hole  48  and an upper nail hole  47  which registers with the upper nail hole  42  in the front wall  28  of fixed piece F when the clamp is adjusted for use with a large sized crown molding, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Also, the front adjustable piece  31  of the clamp has a vertically elongated lower opening  49  which registers with the set screw opening  45   a  in the front wall  28  of fixed piece F in all the vertical positions to which the front adjustable piece  31  of the clamp may be adjusted behind the fixed piece F. 
   The intermediate adjustable piece  32  of the clamp ( FIG. 9 ) is flat and rectangular throughout except for a rearwardly projecting horizontal flange  50  at its upper end ( FIGS. 1 and 5 ) and a rearwardly projecting horizontal flange  51  at its lower end. Piece  32  is slidably received in the vertical opening  41  in the fixed piece F immediately behind the front adjustable piece  31 . It has an upper nail hole  52  which registers with the upper nail hole  47  in the front adjustable piece  31  in the position of the parts shown in  FIG. 5 , as well as a lower nail hole  53  and, below it, a vertically elongated opening  54  registering with the similar opening  49  in the front adjustable piece  31  in all the positions to which the intermediate adjustable piece is vertically adjusted with respect to the fixed piece F and the front adjustable piece  31 . 
   The rear adjustable piece  30  ( FIG. 5 ) has a flat, rectangular, vertical, lower wall  55  which is positioned directly behind the intermediate adjustable piece  32  and is slidably received in the opening  41  in the fixed piece F. At its upper end the rear adjustable piece  30  has a rearwardly projecting enlargement  56  with a rounded upper back corner  57  and a rectangular open-topped recess  58  on the front in which the upper end flange  50  of the intermediate adjustable piece  32  can seat, as shown in  FIG. 3 . A nail hole  59  extends horizontally through the enlargement  56  from front to back. Nail hole  59  registers with the upper nail hole  52  in the intermediate adjustable piece  32 , the upper nail hole  47  in the front adjustable piece  31 , and the intermediate nail hole  43  in the fixed piece F when the clamp is adjusted to the position shown in  FIG. 5 . Alternatively, when the clamp is adjusted to the position shown in  FIG. 6 , nail hole  59  in the rear adjustable piece  30  registers with the lower nail hole  53  in the intermediate adjustable piece  32 , the upper nail hole  47  in the front adjustable piece  31 , and the middle nail hole  43  in the fixed piece F of the clamp 
   When used with a large sized crown molding  10 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , the clamp of the present invention has its fixed piece F positioned with its top face  28 ′ engaging the ceiling  13  and its flanges  35  and  36  engaging the front face  14  of the top front lip  11  of the crown molding, and its bottom wall  29  abutting against the room wall  18  behind and engaging from below the bottom face  19  of the bottom rear lip  16  of the crown molding. The set screw  30  forces the rear adjustable piece  30  back against the back wall of the opening  41  in the enlarged connecting portion  40  of the fixed piece to hold it in the position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 . The front adjustable piece  31  is slid vertically along the fixed piece F to a position in which its upper nail hole  47  is aligned with the middle nail hole  43  in the fixed piece F. The intermediate adjustable piece  32  is slid vertically to a position in which its top flange  50  is seated in the top front recess  58  of the rear adjustable piece  30 , its upper nail hole  52  registers with the nail hole  59  in the rear adjustable piece  30 , with the upper nail hole  47  in the front adjustable piece  31 , and with the middle nail hole  43  in the fixed piece F. The nail N may be inserted through these aligned holes in the clamp and driven through the crown molding  10  and the wood block  27  behind into the wall stud in room wall  18 . The nail N holds the front adjustable piece  31  and the intermediate adjustable piece  32  in the clamp in the positions to which they have been adjusted. 
   The same clamp may be used with a somewhat smaller crown molding  10 A ( FIG. 6 ), elements of which are given the same references numerals, with an A suffix added, as those of the crown molding  10  in  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 6  the fixed piece F, the front adjustable piece  31  and the rear adjustable piece  30  are positioned the same as in  FIG. 5 , but the intermediate adjustable piece  32  is raised to align its middle nail hole  53  with the middle nail hole  43  in the fixed piece F, with the upper nail hole  47  in the front adjustable piece  31 , and with the nail hole  59  in the rear adjustable piece  30 . Nail N is driven through these aligned holes in the clamp, through the crown molding  10 A and wood block  27 , and into the stud in the room wall  18  behind. The bottom wall  29  of the fixed piece F engages the room wall  18  and engages the lower rear lip  16 A of the crown molding from below. The top flange  50  of the intermediate adjustable piece  32  engages the ceiling  13  and engages the front face  14 A of the top front lip of the crown molding. 
     FIG. 7  shows a modified clamp in accordance with the present invention for use with an even smaller crown molding  10  B than the molding  10  in  FIGS. 1–4  or the molding  10 A in  FIG. 5 . Features of this crown molding which correspond to the elements of the larger crown molding  10  in  FIGS. 1–4  are given the same reference numerals with a B suffix added. The adjustable pieces  30 ,  31  and  32  of this clamp are the same as those in  FIGS. 1–6  but the fixed piece FB of this clamp is different in that its front wall  28 B is shorter and the top nail hole ( 42  in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) is omotted. 
   Because of this change, the nail opening  43 B in the fixed piece of the clamp registers with the upper nail opening  47  in the front adjustable piece  31 , the upper nail opening  52  in the intermediate adjustable piece  32 , and the nail opening  59  in the rear adjustable piece  30  when all three adjustable pieces are raised along the fixed piece to engage the ceiling  13 . In this position of the parts, the bottom wall  29 B of the fixed piece engages the lower rear lip  16  B of the crown molding from below, as well as engaging the room wall  18 . The upper end enlargement  56  of the rear adjustable piece  30  engages the front face  14 B of the top front lip  11 B of the crown molding  10 B. 
   From the foregoing description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that the present clamp makes it easier and more convenient for a worker, without assistance, to nail crown of various sizes and shapes in place. Also, it will be understood that various adjustments of the present clamp other than the ones illustrated may be made to accommodate it to various sizes and shapes of crown molding.