Patent Publication Number: US-10328556-B2

Title: Nail plate tool

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     I hereby claim benefit under Title 35, United States Code, Section 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/572,383 filed Dec. 16, 2014. This application is a continuation of the Ser. No. 14/572,383 application. The Ser. No. 14/572,383 application is currently pending. The Ser. No. 14/572,383 application is hereby incorporated by reference into this application. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable to this application. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     The present invention relates generally to a nail plate holder and more specifically it relates to a nail plate tool which aids in positioning and installing nail plates in hard-to-reach areas. 
     Related Art 
     Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field. 
     Nail plates are commonly used in construction areas to aid in connecting multiple structures such as joists together. By their very nature, nail plates are typically intended to be used in ceiling structures which may be difficult to reach due to height. Often, a ladder is necessary to aid in securing such nail plates into place. The use of a ladder is cumbersome, time-costly, and can lead to injury in many cases. 
     Because of the inherent problems with the related art, there is a need for a new and improved nail plate tool which aids in positioning and installing nail plates in hard-to-reach areas. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention generally relates to a nail plate holder which includes an elongated portion having a handle portion at its first end and a holder portion at its second end. The handle portion is adapted to be grasped by a user and the holder portion is adapted to removably retain a nail plate against the nail plate tool, such as through use of a magnet. By removably securing the nail plate to the holder portion, an individual may more easily reach areas to install a nail plate. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a rear upper perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a frontal upper perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear upper perspective view illustrating alignment of a nail plate with the holder portion. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear upper perspective view of the present invention with the nail plate secured in the holder portion. 
         FIG. 5  is a frontal upper perspective view of the present invention with the nail plate secured in the holder portion. 
         FIG. 6  is an upper perspective view of the present invention being used to install a nail plate. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the present invention aligned for use. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the gauge markings of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 9  is a side exploded view of the gauge markings of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 10  is a side sectional view of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A. Overview. 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1 through 10  illustrate a nail plate tool  10 , which comprises an elongated portion  20  having a handle portion  30  at its first end  22  and a holder portion  40  at its second end  24 . The handle portion  30  is adapted to be grasped by a user and the holder portion  40  is adapted to removably retain a nail plate  12  against the nail plate tool  10 , such as through use of a magnet  43 . By removably securing the nail plate  12  to the holder portion  40 , an individual may more easily reach areas to install a nail plate  12 . 
     B. Nail Plate Tool. 
     As shown in the figures, the present invention generally comprises an elongated portion  20  having a first end  22  and a second end  24 . The elongated portion  20  may be comprised of various lengths for different applications of the present invention. For example, a shorter embodiment may be provided for lower heights whereas a longer embodiment may be provided for greater heights. 
     The overall shape and configuration of the elongated portion  20 , and the present invention as a whole, may vary in different embodiments. Thus, the exemplary configuration and shape shown in the figures should not be construed as limiting on the scope of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the elongated portion  20  has a generally rectangular cross-section and a flat configuration. 
     The first end  22  of the elongated portion  20  of the nail plate tool  10  includes a handle portion  30  as best shown in  FIG. 3 . The handle portion  30  comprises the portion of the elongated portion  20  adjacent to its first end  22  that is adapted to be grasped by the user when the present invention is in use. 
     The handle portion  30  may be comprised of the same shape, configuration, and width as the elongated portion  20  as shown in the figures or it may be comprised of a different shape, configuration and width when compared with the rest of the elongated portion  20 . The handle portion  30  will generally include a handle covering  32  comprising a rubber or other malleable covering to increase comfort when grasping the handle portion  30  of the present invention. 
     The handle portion  30  may also include an aperture  34 . The aperture  34  may be located anywhere along the nail plate tool  10 . In a preferred embodiment, the aperture  34  is positioned adjacent to the first end  32  of the elongated portion  20  at the handle portion  30 . The aperture  34  may be utilized to aid in suspending the nail plate tool  10  from various locations, such as a shelf or the belt of a user of the present invention. 
     The second end  24  of the elongated portion  20  may include a holder portion  40  which is adapted to removably receive a nail plate  12  such as shown in the figures. The holder portion  40  includes an inner surface  41  which faces the operator of the present invention when in use and an outer surface  42  which faces away from the operation of the present invention when in use. The holder portion  40  includes a magnet  43  which is adapted to retain the nail plate  12  in place against the present invention until it is nailed into position. 
     The holder portion  40  will generally extend at an angle with respect to the second end  24  of the elongated portion  20  such as best shown in  FIG. 3 . The angle may vary, but will preferably be greater than ninety degrees to form an obtuse angle. A preferred embodiment will include an angle between the elongated portion  20  and holder portion  40  of at least 120 degrees. 
     As shown in the figures, the holder portion  40  may also include a flange  44 . The flange  44  will preferably be comprised of a machined indentation or projection which acts to stop the nail plate  12  from rotating or moving when secured to the holder portion  40 . In a preferred embodiment, the flange  44  extends across the holder portion&#39;s  40  outer surface  43  near the first end  22  of the elongated portion  20  of the present invention. The depth of the flange  44  may vary so long as the nail plate  12  is retained thereagainst when secured to the magnet  43 . 
     The sides of the holder portion  40  may include gauge markings  46  as shown in the figures. The gauge markings  46  may be etched, drawn, printed, or otherwise marked on the holder portion&#39;s  40  outer side edges as shown in the figures. The gauge markings  46  may be utilized to determine whether a nail plate  12  is necessary for a particular installation of piping. If the depth of the joist, stud, or other structure is deeper than the gauge markings  46 , a nail plate  12  will be necessary to prevent nails from puncturing the underlying piping or conduit such as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     C. Operation of Preferred Embodiment. 
     In use, the present invention is first utilized to determine whether a nail plate  12  is needed. As shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , the holder portion  40  of the present invention is aligned beside the joist, stud, or structure to which the piping is installed. The first end  41  of the present invention is pressed up against the piping directly against the joist, stud, or other structure. 
     The gauge markings  46  will indicate whether the depth of the joist, stud, or other structure is sufficient to negate the need for a nail plate  12 . If the depth is insufficient (i.e. does not pass the gauge markings  46 ), then a nail plate  12  should be installed to prevent accidental puncturing of the piping. 
     To install the nail plate  12 , the nail plate  12  is first secured to the holder portion  40  of the present invention. The nail plate  12  is aligned with the holder portion  40  as shown in  FIG. 3  and then secured against the magnet  42  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The flange  44  will prevent the nail plate  12  from rotating or becoming dislodged as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The handle portion  30  of the present invention may then be grasped and used to position the nail plate  12  into place. The nail plate  12  may then be secured to the structure, such as with fasteners and a hammer. A ladder will not be necessary as the present invention will aid with reaching the relevant area. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described above. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.