Patent Abstract:
An apparatus for positioning, spacing and securement of studs along a length of upper and lower framing plates. A body has first and second ribs, with the ribs being spaced such that the distance there between equals the approximate depth of the studs. A positioning bridge extends from the ribs and includes a stud spacing locator on the bridge. A method us use of the apparatus to build a wall is also disclosed.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to an apparatus, and method of using same, for accurate layout of “studs” used to form wall frames between top and bottom “plates” for the construction of buildings, such as houses or the like. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In the construction of frame work in the building of houses, apartments, commercial buildings and the like, lower and upper members are typically required to be secured together. These members typically are made of 4″ wide by×1.5″ deep (hereinafter “depth”) wood, wood-containing, or similar “planks” having varying lengths, such as 10 to 15 feet, or longer. When these planks are firmly secured together through spaced and similarly sized “studs”, at the work sight, or in a pre-fabrication process, they are later nailed, bolted or otherwise firmly secured to the foundation of the building as a wall framework. One of the planks, the “bottom” plank will then serve as the lower frame member which, in turn, will be secured to the building foundation by known means. If the framework is for a second or higher story of the building, the lower plank forming the wall will be secured to the particular floor of the building. 
         [0003]    For quite some time, carpenters, general contractors, masonry contractors and do-it-yourselfers and others have used a device sometimes commonly referred to as a “framing square” FS (see prior art  FIG. 1 ) in determining and locating the spacing required for placement of studs across the length of the planks which will be secured to the upper and lower plates forming the walls to be then fastened to the foundation or floor for the particular building. Actually shaped like an “L” instead of a square, a framing square is usually made of aluminum or other metal. It has a long arm LA that forms a right angle with a second or shorter arm SA. The longer aim LA is typically used to measure right angles, as well as provide on its surface tables and scales commonly used by carpenters in a wide range of projects. Anyone involved in a building project or a project that requires ready access to tables and scales has found a framing square tremendously helpful in many aspects of calculating angles, cuts, and pitches. The framing square is so-called by many because it has been an essential tool in all framing projects, including stair, roof, and picture framing, as well as in the positioning of stud locations for securing planks together to folin plates. The narrower or short arm SA, called the tongue, is typically 1.5 inches (3.81 cm) wide. The wider or long arm LA is referred to as the blade and is usually 2 inches (5.08 cm) wide. A standard framing square typically measures 24 inches (60.96 cm) long by 16 inches (40.64 cm) long. There are variations, however, and both longer and shorter tools are available. 
         [0004]    Although framing squares are believed to have been around for centuries, the first reference to their size was in the 19th century when the size was described as 18 inches (45.73 cm) by 12 inches (30.48 cm). 
         [0005]    Framing squares usually have three scales on them: diagonal, board foot, and octagonal. More modern framing squares also have degree conversion charts for a variety of pitches and their fractional counterparts. There is also usually a table of numbers called the rafter table on the face of the square. This enables a carpenter to quickly calculate cutting angles and construction factors based on the Pythagorean theorem. 
         [0006]    The use of a framing square in the construction of wood-containing frameworks for buildings in aligning upper and lower planks, as described, poses some difficulties and expenditure of considerable time. For example, use of a typical framing square to locate the exact placement of spaced studs, along the length of planks to be secured to one another and the foundation or floor requires that the space between the desired position for the studs be located and marked separately and incrementally for each stud location. 
         [0007]    The present invention addresses the problems set forth above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides an apparatus for positioning, spacing and securement of studs along the length of upper and lower framing plates. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a body, with first and second elongated rib members, each rib member having inner walls and first and second ends and upper and lower faces. The rib members are spaced from one another such that the distance between the rib members equals the depth of the studs to be affixed along the length of the framing plates. A positioning bridge is provided which has inner and outer faces which extend between the rib members and are attached to or extend from each rib member at the first respective ends of the rib members and along the inner face of the positioning bridge. A stud spacing locator is defined on the positioning bridge, for purposes of identifying the precise location for each stud along the length of the plate members. 
         [0009]    In the actual use of the device for the formation of a wall, each of the two planks which will form the upper and lower portions of the wall are laid parallel to one another. A measuring tape or similar device is used to mark, such as by pencil or pen, the desired distance between each stud which is to be located and affixed along the length of the parallel planks. An end of the tape is placed at one end of the planks and extended across the upper faces of the planks. If it is desired that studs be placed at 16 inch intervals, or other, intervals along the planks, the carpenter or other user of the device then incrementally marks such distances along the length of the planks. Thereafter, the device is placed on the upper faces of the planks and the stud spacing locator is aligned with the mark made on the plank for indicating the spacing desired between each plank. After alignment of the device in such fashion, the carpenter or other user of the device then uses a pencil or pen to draw lines alone the respective inner walls of the rib members. These lines now represent the exact position for placement of the respective planks. This procedure is repeated, as necessary, all along the length of the planks. 
         [0010]    The apparatus of the present invention may also be used to properly locate end planks for the wall. 
         [0011]    The apparatus may be formed using any number of materials, such as wood, aluminum, steel, plastic, or the like. It may be formed using several pieces secured one to another, or the component parts may simply be molded, forged or extruded in known fashion such that the final apparatus is in one complete piece. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  (prior art) is a perspective view of a typical prior art framing square as it is used in three steps for marking the positioning of studs along a plank. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are sequential views, illustrating positioning of a preferred design of the device by a carpenter for marking of the precise location for each stud along the length of upper and lower planks to form a wall section. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are views, looking downwardly, illustrating the use of the device for the location of an end stud to a plank. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are perspective views illustrating the formation of a wall frame resulting from the use of the device. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    Now, with first reference to  FIG. 1  (prior art), there is shown a typical prior art framing square FS with long and short arms LA and SA, respectively. The framing square FS was used in the past to form walls for a building by first aligning in side-by-side relationship upper and lower planks  10 A and  10 B.  FIG. 1  (prior art) illustrates the usage of the framing square FS in the locating and positioning of studs (not shown) along the length of the planks  10 A and  10 B. As shown in “STEP  1 ”, a measuring tape MT is first placed on one of the planks, such as  10 B, with the end MT- 1  of the tape MT being placed at one end of the plank  10 B. A pen or pencil marker M is then used by the carpenter (not shown) to place marks M- 1 , M- 2 , etc. along the length of the plank  10 B, at desired intervals (such as shown, every 16″). Next, as shown in  FIG. 1 , STEP  2 , the prior art framing square FS is placed on the planks  10 A,  10 B, such that the long arm LA thereof extends horizontally along the plank  10 B and the short aim SA extends vertically on the planks  10 B and  10 A. The framing square contains markings, in inches, along the length of the arm LA. Assuming that the planks to be used to provide the wall structure have a depth X of 3″, the aim LA is first placed on the first marking M- 1  on the plank  10 B and aligned with the 2″ indication on the arm LA. Marks A and B are then made using the marker M at both the 1″ and 3″ indicators on the long arm LA. The distance between the marks A and B now represent the depth X of the planks  10 A and  10 B. Finally, as shown in Step  3  of  FIG. 1 , the framing square FS is moved such that the short arm SA is aligned with the 1″ mark A and the marker M is placed along the edge of the short arm SA and a continuous line is drawn across the planks  10 A,  10 B, extending from the line A. The framing square FS then is moved so that the edge of the short arm SA is aligned with mark B and a similar line is made on the planks which connect with the mark B. These steps are repeated along the length of the plank, as necessary. In this way, the distance between mark lines A and B represent the depth of the planks as well as their respective location for affixation throughout the length of the planks  10 A,  10 B. 
         [0018]    As will be appreciated, this prior art procedure, and the use of the framing square in this manner are both cumbersome and time consuming. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown the apparatus  100  of the present invention, in the preferred mode. The apparatus  100  has a body  101  which includes a first rib member  102  having an inner smooth inner wall  102 A and a like outer wall  102 A′. The rib member  102  also has first and second ends  102 B and  102 C, respectively. The first end  102 B extends to or is connected to a positioning bridge  104 , which secures the rib member  102  at its first end  102 B to a second rib member  103 , parallel to the member  102 . Thus, the positioning bridge  104  is at a right angle relative to the rib members  102  and  103 . The positioning bridge  104  also has an inner face  104 A receiving the first ends  103 B and  102 B such that the rib members  102  and  103  extend thereto such that there are face sections  104 ′ and  104 ″ on each side of the members  102 ,  103 .′ As described below, in use of the apparatus  100 , the face section  104 ″ may be placed, for example, along the edge IOBBB of the lower plank  10 B, such that the apparatus may be easily glided or moved from location to location along the planks  10 A and  10 B The second rib member has an inner smooth wall  103 A extending its approximate length toward the second end  103 C of the member  103  as well as a similar outer wall  103 A′. A stud spacing locator  105  is defined on the inner face  104 A of the bridge  104 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the stud spacing locator  105  consists of two opposing outwardly extending pyramid or triangle sections  105 A and  105 B, forming a gap  105 C there between. The gap  105 C is precisely half the distance between the respective inner walls  102 A and  103 A on the rib members  102  and  103 . In use, the apparatus is moved to the first mark M 1  and the gap  105 C placed exactly over the mark M 1 . Next, the carpenter or other operator using the apparatus  11  uses a marker M to draw spacing lines SL 1  and SL 2  along the inner walls  103 A and  102 A, respectively. These lines SL 1  and SL 2  represent the exact area and location for placement and affixation of a stud, such as  11 ,  12  or  13 , as shown in  FIG. 5, and 14 and 15 , as shown in  FIG. 5A . After the first lines SL 1  and SL 2  are drawn, the apparatus is then moved to subsequent marked positions M 2  and M 3 , etc. along the length of the plank  10 B. Each of the rib members  102  and  103  have a width W, each of which preferably is 1.5 inches. Furthermore, the width or distance WI between the inner wall  102 A and inner wall  103 A is preferably 1.5 inches. Thus these three widths must correspond to the desired stud depth for the planks  10 A and  10 B. 
       OPERATION 
       [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B , when it is desired to mark the planks  10 A and  10 B using the apparatus  100  of the present invention, the planks  10 A,  10 B are placed side by side, as shown in  FIG. 3A . One end MT 1  of a measuring tape MT is placed at an end of one of the plates, such as lower plate  10 B, and a marker M is used to place a mark at pre-determined intervals, such as every 16″ along the length of the plank  10 B, to provide reference marks M 1 , M 2  M 3 , and the like. Thereafter, the tape MT is removed and the apparatus  100  placed onto the upper face IOBB such that the positioning bridge inner face portion  104 ″ meets the edge IOBBB, as shown in  FIG. 3B . The apparatus is moved along the upper face IOBB until the first mark M 1  is seen precisely within gap  105 C. Thereafter, a marker, such as M, is used by the carpenter or other operator of the apparatus  100  to draw lines at the inner walls  103 A and  102 A and parallel thereto. It is within the area of these lines SL 1  and SL 2  ( FIG. 3B ) that a stud, such as  11 ,  12 , etc. will be located and later affixed to the planks  10 A and  10 B. After the lines SL 1  and SL 2  are drawn, the apparatus is moved along the planks  10 A and  10 B to the subsequent marks, M 2 , M 3 , etc., and the steps repeated as necessary, for locating and affixing additional planks, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 5A . 
         [0021]    The apparatus  100  may also be used to identify proper locations for end studs, such as stud  11  ( FIG. 5 ). Now referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , when it is desired to use the apparatus  100  to identify locations for studs for an end plank, such as  11 , the apparatus  100  is placed over one end of, for example, an upper plank  10 A, as shown in  FIG. 4A , with the bridge face member  104 ″ along the outer wall of the plank  11 . Lines  50 ,  51  and  52  are drawn parallel to the inner walls  102 A,  103 A and the outer wall  102 A′, respectively. It is these lines  50 ,  51  and  52 , along with the upper edge  53  of the plank, such as  11 , which define the areas  54  and  55  which define the location for securing planks (not shown) to an end plank. 
         [0022]    While the foregoing is directed to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims which follow

Technology Classification (CPC): 4