Patent Publication Number: US-7708261-B2

Title: Carpenter&#39;s square securing apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to a securing apparatus for a carpenter&#39;s square and a method for using the same. The apparatus is especially suitable for securing at least two planar surfaces in a fixed position. More specifically, the apparatus may allow a user to secure at least two planar surfaces in a fixed position to, for example, perform work on the planar surfaces. The present invention allows a user to easily secure a clamp onto a carpenter&#39;s square. 
   There are a number of different apparatuses that have been invented to temporarily secure to surfaces together in order to perform work on the surfaces. These inventions include clamps, toggle linkage gripping tools and locking pliers. These tools generally have a few different functions such as, gripping a member so that it can be manipulated or holding two large members, such a wood frame members, at right angles before they are secured together. 
   U.S. Patent No.: to Johnson relates to an attachment for a carpenter&#39;s square which permits the carpenter&#39;s square to be self supporting on a flat, horizontal surface. The attachment has an elongated support bar with two clips which may be inserted over a blade of a carpenter&#39;s square. This attachment, when inserted on the inner edge of the carpenter&#39;s square, facilitates the scribing of a right-angle line to a rounded edge and when placed on an outer edge, permits the square to be free standing. 
   However, these existing devices fail to provide the benefits of the present invention. More specifically, theses existing devices fail to hold a carpenter&#39;s square in a secure position while work is performed on planar surfaces attached to the carpenter&#39;s square. 
   A need, therefore, exists for an improved apparatus for securing at least two planar surfaces in a secure position. In addition, an improved apparatus is needed which can be used in association with common tools, such as a carpenter&#39;s square. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to a securing apparatus for a carpenter&#39;s square and a method for using the same. The apparatus is especially suitable for securing at least two planar surfaces in a fixed position. More specifically, the apparatus may allow a user to secure at least two planar surfaces in a fixed position to, for example, perform work on the planar surfaces. The present invention allows a user to easily secure a clamp onto a carpenter&#39;s square. 
   An advantage of the present invention is to provide a securing apparatus which can secure a carpenter&#39;s square to a planar surface. 
   An advantage of the present invention is to provide a securing apparatus which is easily transported. 
   Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a securing apparatus which may be used multiple times. 
   A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a securing apparatus which may be used to secure a carpenter&#39;s square of various lengths. 
   For a more complete understanding of the above listed features and advantages of the carpenters square securing apparatus, reference should be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and to the accompanying drawings. Further, additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the preferred embodiments and from the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a side perspective view of a second unit of the securing apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a side perspective view of the present invention wherein a first unit is used to secure a carpenters square. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a front flat view of the securing apparatus wherein a first unit and a second unit are securing a carpenters square to a planar surface. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a side flat view of the present invention in use. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention generally relates to a securing apparatus for a carpenter&#39;s square and a method for using the same. The apparatus is especially suitable for securing at least two planar surfaces in a fixed position. More specifically, the apparatus may allow a user to secure at least two planar surfaces in a fixed position to, for example, perform work on the planar surfaces. The present invention allows a user to easily secure a clamp onto a carpenter&#39;s square. 
   During construction of furniture or other objects made from, for example, wood, it is often important to secure two planar surfaces together. Often the two planar surfaces are secured into a substantially perpendicular position to act as, for example a corner of the object. To accomplish this, carpenters often utilize clamps, levels, rulers and even tape to secure the surfaces while work is performed on the surfaces. For example, it is common to place glue on the side of one planar surface and then to clamp the two planar surfaces in a perpendicular position while the glue permanently secures the surfaces together. Often the carpenter also uses nails and or screws for reinforce the glue. The clamps, levels, rulers and/or tape are then removed after the planar surfaces are secured together. It is common for a person to use a carpenters square to measure (or secure) the angle of two or more panels that are to be secured together. Usually the panels are secured at ninety degree angles. The present apparatus allows the user to automatically obtain the desired angle between the two or more panels. 
   Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts,  FIGS. 1 and 2  generally illustrates a carpenter&#39;s square securing apparatus  1 . The securing apparatus  1  may have a first unit  2  and a second unit  3 . The first unit  2  may have a top side  4 , a bottom side  5 , a front  6 , a back  7 , a first side  8  and a second side  9 . Further, the first unit  2  may have a plurality of slots  10  divided by a plurality of securing panels  11 . The plurality of slots  10  and the plurality of securing panels  11  may be substantially planar and substantially parallel to each other. Further the two exterior most plurality of securing panels  11  may act as the first side  8  and the second side  9  of the first unit  2 . 
   The second unit  3  of the securing apparatus  1  may be similar to the first unit  2  of the securing apparatus  1 . More specifically, the second unit  3  may have a top side  20 , a bottom side  21 , a front  22 , a back  23 , a first side  24  and a second side  25 . Further, the second unit  3  may have a plurality of slots  10  divided by a plurality of securing panels  11 . The plurality of slots  10  and the plurality of securing panels  11  may be substantially planar and substantially parallel to each other. Further the exterior most plurality of securing panels  11  may be the first side  24  and the second side  25  of the second unit  3 . 
   The first unit  2  and the second unit  3  may each have a length  42 . Preferably, the length  42  of the first unit  2  and the second unit  3  are similar. The plurality of slots  10  (created by the spaces between the plurality of securing panels  11 ) may be may have a width  40  and a height  41 . Further, the plurality of slots  10  (created by the spaces between the plurality of securing panels  11 ) may extend the entire length  42  of the first unit  2  and the second unit  3 . The bottom of the first unit and the second unit may have a rigid surface  60  for grasping the planar surface  70 , for example, via friction (See  FIG. 3 ). 
   A carpenters square  50 , or other substantially planer device, may be inserted into one of the plurality of slots  10  located on the first unit  2 . The width  40  of the plurality of slots  10  may be slightly larger than a width  55  of a standard carpenter&#39;s square  50 . As a result, the carpenter&#39;s square  50  may fit snugly within one of the plurality of slots  10  of the first unit  2  and the second unit  3 . Further, the carpenter&#39;s square  50  may be temporarily secured into one of the plurality of slots  10  by, for example, friction. 
   The first unit  2  and the second unit  3  of the securing apparatus  1  together may form a single block-like structure  51  ( FIG. 4 ). While using the securing apparatus  1 , the user may use multiple block-like structures  51 , depending on, for example, the length of the carpenter&#39;s square  50  or other factors. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , in practice the user places the bottom side  5  of the first unit  2  on top of a first planar surface  70 . If a long carpenter&#39;s square  50  is used the user may place multiple first units  2  on top of the first planar surface  70 . If multiple first units  2  (and corresponding second units  3 ) are used to secure the carpenter&#39;s square  50  the plurality of slots  10  should be lined up so as to allow the carpenter&#39;s square  50  to be inserted into the plurality of slots  10  located in different first units  2 . In practice, the user may simply place the multiple first units  2  onto the carpenter&#39;s square  50  and then secure the carpenter&#39;s square  50 -securing apparatus  1  unit to the planar surface  70 . 
   A center slot  200  of the first unit  2  may have a larger width  201  than the remaining slots  10  of the first unit  2  and the second unit  3 . More specifically, the larger width  201  of the first unit  2  may be roughly equal to the width  55  of the carpenter&#39;s square  50  plus the width of two of the plurality of securing panels  11  of the second unit  3 . Therefore, the center slot  200  of the first unit  2  may snugly fit the carpenter&#39;s square  50  and two of the plurality of securing panels  11  of the second unit  3 . 
   After one or more first units  2  are placed on the first planar surface  70 , the carpenter&#39;s square  50  is placed, preferably, into the center slot  200  of the plurality of slots  10 . Next, the second unit  3  is secured onto the first unit  2  and the carpenter&#39;s square  50 . More specifically, the second unit  3  is inserted over the carpenter&#39;s square  50  and the first unit  2  in an inverted position. The top side  20  of the second unit  3  overlaps the top side  4  of the first unit  2  so that a portion of the carpenter&#39;s square  50  is completely surrounded by the interlocking first unit  2  and second unit  3 . More specifically, a portion of the carpenter&#39;s square  50  is completely located with a space created by one of the plurality of slots  10  for the first unit  2  and one of the plurality of slots  10  of the second unit  3 . The carpenter&#39;s square  50  may be secured within the first unit  2  and second unit  3  by, for example, friction. 
   The plurality of slots  10  located on the first unit  2  which do not accept carpenter&#39;s square  50  (namely, the non-center slots) may be used to accept the corresponding plurality of securing panels  11  of the second unit  3 , and vice versa. The first unit  2  may be secured to the second unit  3  as a result of the friction created by the multiple plurality of panels  11  being inserted into the plurality of slots  10 . 
   Once the first unit  2  and second unit  3  are secured to each other and around the carpenter&#39;s square  50 , the bottom side  5  of the first unit  2  and the bottom side  21  of the second unit  3  may allow the generally thin carpenter&#39;s square  50  to stand upright without falling over. Further, the bottom side  5  of the first unit  2  and the bottom side  21  of the second unit  3  may provide the user with a generally flat surface for a clamp  150  to grasp onto to secure the carpenter&#39;s square  50  to the planar surface  70 . 
   A carpenter&#39;s square  50  is generally L-shaped and generally has a first arm  51  and a second arm  52 . After the first unit  2  and the second unit  3  are inserted around the first arm  51  of the carpenter&#39;s square  50  a second first unit  2  and second unit  3  may be inserted around the second arm  52  of the carpenter&#39;s square  50 . A second clamp  151  may then be used to clamp the first unit  2 , second unit  3  and carpenter&#39;s square  50  to a second planar surface  71 . 
   Typically, an end of the first planar surface  70  and an end of the second planar surface  71  are placed together and glue, nails and or screws are used to permanently secure the first planar surface  70  to the second planar surface  71 . Once the glue dries, the clamps  150  and  151  may be removed allowing the user to completely remove the first unit  2 , second unit  3  and the carpenter&#39;s square  50  from both planar surfaces. The first unit  2  and second unit  3  may then be pulled away from the carpenter&#39;s square  50  by, for example, overcoming the friction holding the units together. The first unit  2 , second unit  3  and carpenter&#39;s square  50  may then be stored and used again. 
   In an embodiment, each of the first unit  2  and the second unit  3  only have one slot  10 , instead of the plurality of slots  10  as described above. 
   Although embodiments of the present invention are shown and described therein, it should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is, therefore, intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.