Patent Abstract:
A device for use at construction sites, the device having a plurality of brackets for quickly and easily mounting the device on building studs and for supporting a length of material, such as a two by four, and wherein two or more of the devices can be mounted on neighboring building studs to create a work or work surface supporting apparatus.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/195,915, filed Oct. 14, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a device and apparatus for supporting work or work surfaces and more particularly to such a device and apparatus for use at building construction sites. Building construction sights now typically use saw horses or other temporarily assembled supports for supporting work or work surfaces at the construction site. This is often inconvenient and time consuming because saw horses may not be readily available or may be in use for other purposes. If construction workers are required to assemble temporary supports, their time is not being efficiently used in the construction process. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a device and apparatus for supporting work or a work surface at a building construction site. 
     Another object is to provide such a device and apparatus which can be quickly and easily positioned and held on vertical building studs. 
     A further object of the invention is the provision of such a device and apparatus which can be quickly positioned and easily assembled and disassembled at the construction site. 
     Still another object is to provide such a device which can be readily stored and transported. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of such an apparatus which uses the device of this invention and which apparatus can be assembled and disassembled at the construction site without the use of tools. 
     Another object is to provide such an apparatus which uses the device of this invention together with readily available lengths of lumber at the construction site. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages are realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To achieve these and other objects, the present invention provides a device for receiving and supporting a first length of material adjacent to a first member, the device comprising: a first flat element defining first and second opposed flat surfaces and first, second, third and fourth perimeter edges; a first right-angle bracket connected to the second surface; a second right-angle bracket connected to the second surface; the first and second brackets positioned in cooperating relationship with each other and with the flat element for removably supporting the device on the first member; a third right-angle bracket connected to the first surface; a fourth substantially right-angle bracket connected to the first surface; and the third and fourth brackets positioned in cooperating relationship with each other and with the flat element for removably receiving and supporting the first length of material adjacent to the first member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the receiving and supporting device of this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view of the device; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the device; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the device; 
         FIG. 6  is a right side elevation view of the device; 
         FIG. 7  is a left side elevation view of the device; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the device as it is initially positioned adjacent to a building stud; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating how the device is rotated from its position shown in  FIG. 8  in the process of mounting the device onto a stud; 
         FIG. 10  is a different perspective view of the device as it is illustrated in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the device mounted on a building stud and positioned ready for use; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the device mounted on a building stud and having a length of lumber supported by the device; and 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing two of the devices mounted on neighboring studs with each device supporting a length of lumber to provide apparatus for supporting work or a work surface. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown a device  10  in accordance with the invention for receiving and supporting a first length of material  11  adjacent to a first member  13 . 
     Device  10  includes a first substantially flat element  20  defining first  22  and second  24  opposed substantially flat surfaces and first  26 , second  28 , third  30  and fourth  32  perimeter edges. 
     In accordance with the invention, device  10  further includes a first  34  substantially right-angle bracket connected to second surface  24  and a second  36  substantially right-angle bracket connected to second surface  24 . 
     The first  34  and second  36  brackets are positioned in cooperating relationship with each other and with flat element  20  for removably supporting device  10  on first member  13 . 
     Device  10  further includes a third  38  substantially right-angle bracket connected to first surface  22  and a fourth  40  substantially right-angle bracket connected to first surface  22 . 
     Third  38  and fourth  40  brackets are positioned in cooperating relationship with each other and with flat element  20  for removably receiving and supporting first length of material  11  adjacent to first member  13 . 
     First bracket  34  defines a first part  34 ′ substantially perpendicularly connected to second surface  24  and a second part  34 ″ substantially perpendicularly connected to first part  34 ′. 
     Second bracket  36  defines a third part  36 ′ substantially perpendicularly connected to second surface  24  and a fourth part  36 ″ substantially perpendicularly connected to third part  36 ′. 
     Second  34 ″ and fourth  36 ″ parts extend inwardly of device  10  with respect to second  28  and fourth  32  edges, respectively. 
     Third bracket  38  defines a fifth part  38 ′ substantially perpendicularly connected to first surface  22  and a sixth part  38 ″ substantially perpendicularly connected to fifth part  38 ′. 
     Fourth bracket  40  defines a seventh part  40 ′ substantially perpendicularly connected to first surface  22  and an eighth part  40 ″ substantially perpendicularly connected to seventh part  40 ′. 
     Sixth part  38 ″ extends inwardly of device  10  with respect to third edge  30  and eighth part  40 ″ extends in a direction away from first edge  26  and toward third edge  30 . 
     First member  13  is a substantially vertically oriented structural wall stud and first  34  and second  36  brackets are sized and positioned on flat element  20  for removably receiving stud  13  between second part  34 ″ and flat element  20  and between fourth part  36 ″ and flat element  20 , respectively, when device  10  is positioned on stud  13 . 
     First part  34 ′ and third part  36 ′ are positioned on flat element  20  to simultaneously engage stud  13  when device  10  is positioned on the stud. 
     Third  38  and fourth  40  brackets are positioned with respect to each other on flat element  20  to cooperatively receive and support first length of material  11  when the length of material is positioned between third  38  and fourth  40  brackets. 
     First length of material  11  is a length of lumber of predetermined dimensions, such as a two by four. 
     First bracket  34  is connected in adjacent relationship with second  28  and third  30  edges and second bracket  36  is connected in adjacent relationship with first  26  and fourth  32  edges. 
     Third bracket  38  is connected in adjacent relationship with second  28  and third  30  edges. 
     Fourth bracket  40  is connected in adjacent relationship with fourth edge  32  and seventh part  40 ′ is connected to flat element  20  substantially midway between first  26  and third  30  edges. 
     Each of first  34 ′, second  34 ″, third  36 ′, fourth  36 ″, fifth  38 ′, sixth  38 ″, seventh  40 ′ and eighth  40 ″ parts are flat. 
     Device  10  is preferably comprised of metal and each of the brackets is preferably welded to flat element  20 . 
     Fifth  38 ′ and seventh  40 ′ parts extend equal distances from first surface  22  and first  34 ′ and third  36 ′ parts extend equal distances from second surface  24 . 
     Work supporting apparatus as shown in  FIG. 13  includes two of devices  10  positioned on neighboring ones of first members or studs  13 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , each of devices  10  supports one length of material  11  for receiving and supporting work or work surface  42  on lengths of material  11 . 
     In operation and use, devices  10  are positioned onto studs  13  by positioning and moving devices  10  in a sequence shown in  FIGS. 8-11 . No tools are required to accomplish this. Lengths of material or lumber  11  are then positioned in supporting relationship with respect to each device  10  as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
     Two or more of devices  10  can be positioned onto neighboring ones of studs  13 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , and work or work surfaces  42  are positioned onto lengths of material  11 . Work  42  can then be cut or otherwise manipulated while being supported by lengths of material  11 . 
     Elements  42  illustrated in  FIG. 13  may also be a flat sheet or sheets of plywood or other flat material if it is desired to create a temporary desk or table at the construction site. 
     The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details shown and described, and departures may be made from such details without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1