Patent Abstract:
A tool for installing fiberglass insulation. The tool having a handle with a telescopically movable post for extending its length. The tool having a grasping portion for holding the insulation. The grasping potion comprising of a pair of gripping plates, each with a stabilizing strip attached thereto. A cam flange section integral with the tops of the plates and having a pair of arc shaped slots for sliding engagement with the plates. Rotation of the handle causing the plates to either open or close.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a tool for use in the installation of fiberglass insulation or rock wool in residential and commercial buildings, and more specifically a tool designed to insert such insulation in the roof rafters of previously constructed homes. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Fiberglass insulation and rock wool are the two most common types of insulation used on previously constructed homes. When they are installed the workmen must be constantly cutting and sizing the sheets of insulation. The insulation is usually supplied in the form of rolls. The installer will usually cut with a knife manageable lengths of the material. As the material is installed in the rafters the installer will usual note a witness mark for the previously installed section. This is because the next sheet of insulation is pushed inward to a length less the predetermined amount the units of insulation have been cut. This is to accommodate the slope and therefore shorter sections are required. At present there is no tool available to provide the installer an easy yet effective means for judging this distance and having a tool that will of itself accommodate these differences. 
     The prior art does disclose some patents that have anticipated the problems of installing these types of insulation. One such patent was issued to Schultz on Apr. 12, 1994. This was U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,378 which taught of a tool for installing fiberglass insulation. Although quite different in construction from the present invention, it was the only patent that addressed the subject. 
     Other patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,010, issued to Stocker on Apr. 11, 2000, teach of tools for manipulation of material sections to overhead heights. 
     None of the above inventions and Patents, taken either singly or in combination, are given to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the above problems and difficulties are obviated by the present invention which provides for an installation tool designed to be adaptable for differences in rafter heights or lengths. The present invention is designed to insert sheets of insulation, in previously constructed homes and buildings, between the roof rafters of difficult to reach places such as dormers. The insulation is cut into manageable size sheets for insertion into the roof and eaves of the building. The present invention is opened by rotating a handle thereby operating a cam slotted flange. A sheet of insulation is placed between a pair of gripping plates and the handle is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to securely grasp the sheet. The user need only to reverse the handle direction to release the sheet. As the sheets of insulation are installed, beginning at the furthermost point, a witness mark is noted on the handle of the tool. By precutting the insulation sheets the installer can coordinate the distance the sheets must be pushed into position, noting with a witness mark this distance on the handle. The handle of the tool is adjustable lengthwise and as previously mentioned can be marked in increments corresponding to the precut installation sheets. To insure that there be no appreciable gaps, an adjustable rod (not part of inventive concept) is applied to the top surface of each bay as it is filled, thereby allowing for an air space for venting and prevention of moisture traps. 
     The present invention can be dismantled slightly so that the handle portion can be removed from the cam operated gripping plates. This feature is especially useful wherein a tamper add-on can be affixed to the distal end of the handle section to aid in aligning the insulation material as they are installed. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an installation tool that will grasp the insulation material that is to be pushed into position, while also allowing the installer to be able to know how far he must push by visually noting the witness marks on the handle. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide an installation tool that is very inexpensive since insulating one&#39;s home would be done so rarely that the tool would almost have to be considered a one application tool, however it must be built rugged enough for use by the professional installer of insulation. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a tool that not only would be used to install the insulation material but which is adjustable in length. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a tampering tool that could also be used to “tap” the insulation sections into position. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective elevation view of the present invention in an open position. 
     FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the post section removed from the sleeve section. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the handle portion affixed with a tampering block. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the grasping portion in an open position. 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the grasping portion in a closed position. 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the grasping portion in an open position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention is shown as it might appear when opened and ready to grasp a sheet of fiberglass insulation. The installation tool of the present invention  10  comprises a longitudinal axis and an elongated handle portion  11  integrally connected to a grasping portion  12  by means of a cam flange disk  13 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the handle portion  11  is comprised of a hollow sleeve section  14  having an outer surface fluted for easy handling. Sleeve section  14  is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the tool  10  and preferably of a tubular shape and made of appropriate material such as plastic or lightweight metal. Sleeve section  14  having a plurality of equidistantly spaced openings  15  in the shell of the sleeve  14 . The handle portion  11  also comprising an elongated post member  16  which is interposed coaxial within the sleeve section  14 , such that it may slide within the axis of the sleeve  14  to thereby extend or shorten the length of the handle portion  11 . The post  16  having a proximal end  17  and a distal end  18  as shown in FIG.  2 . The post  16  further having at least one spring loaded button  19  which when properly aligned with one of the openings  15  of the sleeve section  14  will retain the post  16  at that position in the sleeve  14 . The distal end  18  of the post  16  having a rounded tip  20  which is friction fitted to a circular hole  28  in the cam flange disk  13  of the grasping portion  12 . This tip  20  may also be friction fitted to a tampering block  21  as illustrated in FIG.  3 . This creates a tool that can be used to “tap down” the fiberglass sheets to insure a smooth and tight fit. 
     The grasping portion  12  as illustrated in FIGS. 1,  4 - 6 , is comprised of a pair of angle iron shaped gripping plates, a first gripping plate  22   a  and a second gripping plate  22   b , which are maintained in a parallel relationship to each other by the movement of the cam flange disk  13 . Two arc shaped slots  26  are defined in the cam flange disk  13 . Each of the gripping plates  22   a  and  22   b , having lip sections  24  formed in their upper areas, are attached to the cam flange disk  13  by a connecting pin  30 . A pair of stabilizing strips, a first stabilizing strip  25   a  and a second stabilizing strip  25   b , each having opposing ends: one end of the first stabilizing strip  25   a  being rotationally attached to the first gripping plate  22   a  by one of the connecting pins  30 , while one end of the second stabilizing strip  25   b  being rotationally attached to the second gripping plate  22   b  by the other connecting pin  30 ; the other end of the first stabilizing strip  25   a  being in a sliding relationship with the opposing second gripping plate  22   b  by a lug nut  23  slidingly transposing within an aperture  29  located in the lip section  24  of the second gripping plate  22   b , and the other end of the second stabilizing strip  25   b  in a sliding relationship with the opposing first gripping plate  22   a  by a lug nut  23  slidingly transposing within an aperture  29  located in the lip section  24  of the first gripping plate  22   a.    
     Upon the handle portion  11  being rotated, the gripping plates  22   a  and  22   b  are either opened or closed. When rotated in a counterclockwise direction, plates  22   a  and  22   b  are opened to define a receiving space  27 . When rotated in a clockwise rotation, they are therein closed. This is accomplished by the having the arc shaped slots  26   a  and  26   b  of the cam flange section  13  each rotate about a connecting pin  30 , whereby the gripping plates  22   a  and  22   b  are either forced open or closed. Providing the tool  10  a degree of structure and strength while being opened or closed is the function of the stabilizing strips  25   a  and  25   b . One end of the first stabilizing strip  25   a  being rotationally fastened at the center area of the lip section  24  of the plate  22   a  by a connecting pin  30  and at the other end being fastened in a sliding relationship with the outer edge of the lip section  24  of the plate  22   b  by means of a lug nut  23 , which is allowed to slide freely within the aperture  29 . Conversely, the other stabilizing strip  25   b , one end being rotationally fastened at the center area of the lip section  24  of plate  22   b  by a connecting pin  30  and the other end being fastened at the outer edge of the lip section  24  of plate  22   a  by means of a lug nut  23  which is allowed to slide freely within the aperture  29 . Thus as the plates  22   a  and  22   b  are opened or closed, the stabilizing strips  25   a  and  25   b  each rotate at one end about one of the corresponding connecting pins  30 , while the other ends slide within the corresponding apertures  29   a  and  29   b . This prevents any “buckling” action between the plates  22   a  and  22   b . Both the connecting pins  30  and the lug nuts  23 , have a nut and bolt type of structure. The bottom sections are juxtaposed against the surface of one of the strips  25   a  or  25   b  and resemble the head of a bolt while the upper sections have a nut type structure with an outer diameter larger than either of their respective cam flange slots  26   a  or  26   b  or the apertures  29 . Thereby, as they protrude through and are urged in a transverse motion, they are able to maintain the connections therein. Gripping plates  22   a  and  22   b , stabilizing strips  25   a  and  25   b , and cam flange section  13  are designed to be manufactured from a lightweight metal or plastic. 
     A very useful idea that can be employed when using the present invention  10  is to employ witness marks on the handle portion to indicate how far the insulation material needs to be inserted. Whether the application be in a roof, dormer or eave section of the house or building, the fiberglass material will need to be cut into predetermined sizes and then placed into their proper position. 
     The insulation tool  10  will need to be inexpensively manufactured, yet needs to be rugged enough and strong enough to handle the task. The best materials for construction will be very lightweight plastic for the handle portion  11  and lightweight metal for the grasping portion  12 . 
     Although only one use and embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail hereinabove, all improvements and modifications to this invention within the scope or equivalents of the claims are covered by this invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4