Abstract:
A siding layout tool includes a body having a first face, a second face and at least one alignment guide. A plurality of holes extend through the body from the first face to the second face. A member is provided having a working end. The member is received in a selected one of the plurality of holes in the body, with the working end extending from the second face. The siding layout tool, as described, permits one handed operation, which leaves the users other hand free.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a siding layout tool 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,090 which issued to Bouska et al in 1993 describes a siding layout tool. The siding layout tool of Bouska et al consists of a plate with an upper panel, a lower panel and a step positioned inbetween. The upper panel and the lower panel each have a number of openings. A pencil or a blade of a utility knife is inserted into a selected one of the openings. The step is positioned against a ridge on a piece of siding. The ridge of the piece of siding is then used as a guide in making a longitudinal mark on the siding with either the pencil or the blade of the utility knife. 
     When using the Bouska et al siding layout tool, two hands are required. One hand holds the siding layout tool and the other hand holds the pencil or the utility knife. This two handed operation has proven to be a limiting factor for the Bouska et al tool. It would be preferable if it was capable of one handed operation, in order to free up one of the users hands to prevent movement of the siding. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     What is required is a siding layout tool capable of one handed operation. 
     According to the present invention there is provided a siding layout tool which includes a body having a first face, a second face and at least one alignment guide. A plurality of holes extend through the body from the first face to the second face. A member is provided having a working end. The member is received in a selected one of the plurality of holes in the body, with the working end extending from one of the first face and the second face. 
     With the siding layout tool, as described above, the member that scores or marks the siding forms part of the tool. This permits one handed operation. There is no need to hold a pencil, utility knife, or scoring instrument in position with one&#39;s other hand. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a siding layout tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the siding layout tool illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a scoring member for use with the siding layout tool illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation view, in section, the siding layout tool illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation view, in partial section, of the siding layout tool illustrated in FIG. 1, in use scoring siding. 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation view, in partial section, of a second embodiment of a siding layout tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiment, a first embodiment of a siding layout tool generally identified by reference numeral  10 , will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 5. An alternative embodiment of a siding layout tool generally identified by reference numeral  100 , will then be described with reference to FIG.  6 . 
     Referring to FIG. 1, preferred embodiment of siding layout tool  10  includes a body  12  and a member  14 . Body  12  has a first face  16 , a second face  18 , a first end  20 , and a second end  22 . Referring to FIG. 2, body  12  has a first side  24 , and a second side  26 . Referring to FIG. 1, a first alignment guide  30  projects outwardly from second face  18  at first end  20 . A second alignment guide  32  projects outwardly from second face  18  at second end  22 . Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, a plurality of holes  34  extend through body  12  from first face  16  to second face  18 . Holes  34  either have internal threads or are able to receive a threaded member, as will hereinafter be further described. Referring to FIG. 2, holes  34  are aligned in rows that extend between first end  20  and second end  22 . For purposes of illustration, holes  34  are shown in four rows corresponding to intervals of one-half of one inch on the Imperial scale, a first row  36  starting at a one-eighth inch position, a second row  38  starting at a three-eighths inch position, a third row  40  starting at a one-quarter inch position, and a fourth row  42  starting at a one-half inch position from first alignment guide  30 . The number of rows of holes  34  and the spacing of the rows and holes  34  within each row is selected to provide a variety of positions relative to one or both of first alignment guide  30  and second alignment guide  32 . The rows do not have to be exactly as illustrated, but can vary and still provide a variety of positions. First numeric indicia  54  define the relationship each of the rows has to one of first side  24  and second side  26 . Second numeric indicia  56  define the relationship each of the plurality of holes  34  has to one of first alignment guide  30  at first end  20  and second alignment guide  32  at second end  22 . For purposes of illustration only, second numeric indicia  56  are shown as Imperial scale units in FIG.  2 . It is preferred that an indentation  60  extends the majority of the width of each of first end  20  and second end  22 , so that a position of first numeric indicia  54  on a section of siding  28 , shown in FIG. 5, can be viewed as body  12  is moved along section of siding  28 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, member  14  has a working end  44 , a gripping end  46  and a shaft  47  that extends between working end  44  and gripping end  46 . Positioned on shaft  47  are helical threads  49 . Referring to FIG. 1, member  14  is received in threaded engagement in a selected one of the plurality of holes  34  in body  12 . Gripping end  46  extends from first face  16  and working end  44  extends from second face  18 . Referring to FIG. 3, when member  14  is a scoring tool, working end  44  is a blade  48  having a sharpened edge  50 . A pair of alignment indicia  52  are aligned with sharpened edge  50  so as to show the orientation when blade  48  is positioned within hole  34  of body  12 , as illustrated in FIG.  5 . When member  14  is a marking tool, blade  48  is replaced with a marking implement. When member  14  is a cutting tool, blade  48  has an angled sharpened edge  50  and one of alignment indicia  52  differs from the other of alignment indicia  52  so as to indicate the direction of the angle of sharpened edge  50 . 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a profile of first side  24  is a mirror image to a profile of second side  26 , and is such that body  12  fits closely to the contours of siding  28  when body  12  is lain over siding  28 , as illustrated in FIG.  5 . Second face  18  of body  12  of first embodiment of siding layout tool  10  from first end  20  to second end  22  has a surface profile that is adapted to overlay and fit closely to the profile of siding  28 . In this first embodiment the tool illustrated is adapted to fit the profile of cove style siding. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, alternative embodiment of siding layout tool  100  is substantially similar to preferred embodiment of siding layout tool  10 , except that the surface profile on second face  18  has been altered to accommodate a different style of siding, bevelled siding. 
     It will be recognized that the profile of the body can be changed to create alternative embodiments of siding layout tool designed to match different contours of siding or other materials to be marked, scored or cut. 
     Each of the plurality of holes  34  preferably is marked with its own individual second numeric indicia  66  which, for clarity of illustration, are shown only for holes  34  of first row  36  and fourth row  42  in FIG.  2 . Referring to FIG. 1, third numeric indicia  68  also may be marked on one or both of first side  24  and second side  26  adjacent second face  18 , to provide further guidance in the use of preferred siding layout tool  10 . Similarly, first numeric indicia  54 , second numeric indicia  56 , individual second numeric indicia  66  and third numeric indicia  68  are marked on alternative siding layout tool  100 . 
     The use of preferred siding layout tool  10  will now be described. Member  14 , selected from a scoring member as illustrated in FIG. 3, a marking member and a cutting member, is inserted into a selected hole  34  in body  12 , as illustrated in FIG. 2, so that working end  44  extends past second face  18  and gripping end  46  extends from first face  16 , as illustrated in FIG.  1 . It is preferred that member  14  be threaded into place by manipulating gripping end  46  until working end  44  projects a desired distance past second face  18 . Threads  49  engage holes  34  to hold member  14  in position and maintain the desired positioning of working end  44 . Referring to FIG. 5, body  12  is lain over a surface  70  of section of siding  28  so that first alignment guide  30  abuts an edge  72  of siding  28 . For purposes of illustration, when member  14  is the scoring member illustrated in FIG. 3, body  12  is moved laterally along section of siding  28  and working end  44  scores surface  70  of section of siding  28  in a line parallel to edge  72 , illustrated in FIG.  5 . Referring to FIG. 6, alternative embodiment of siding layout tool  100  is used in the same manner as preferred embodiment of siding layout tool  10 , to score, mark or cut a section of siding with a profile different to that illustrated in FIG.  5 . 
     Several advantages are conferred by the teachings of the present invention. The siding layout tool is easily used with only one hand, because member  14  is securely held in place in body  12 . Member  14  is easily and rapidly set securely in place in a selected hole  34  in body  12 . The tool can be used with equal facility by either right-handed or left-handed persons. The tool can be used easily by a person who is using his other hand to hold on to a ladder or scaffolding. Body  12  can be either pushed or pulled along siding  28 . The tool is sufficiently small and light in weight that it can be easily carried in a pocket or pouch. The tool can be made of any one of a variety of materials or a composite, to convey the properties of rigidity, light weight construction, and durability. When working end  44  of member  14  becomes worn or is damaged, it is easily replaced. Working member  14  can be repositioned after a first use in order to perform a second use, such as making a second score or marking on the same section of siding  28 . It is preferred that the profile of the tool fits closely to the profile of the section of siding with second face  18  in contact with section of siding  28 , thereby providing a firm positioning of the tool during use. Either first alignment guide  30 , second alignment guide  32  or both can be used to accurately position the tool as it is moved laterally along section of siding  28 . Each of first end  20  and second end  22  have indentations  60  to enable a user to readily see start and stop marks for any score or cut. First numeric indicia  54  allow a user to easily line up cut outs for tops and bottoms of windows, doors, or other openings. Each of first side  16  and second side  18  are squared and have second numeric indicia, and can serve as a measure or a squaring tool. The holes are placed in rows and are separated by increments appropriate for the selected type of siding to be scored, cut or marked. When Imperial measurements are to be used for standard sizes of siding, as used in North America for example, the holes are at increments of one-eighth of one inch, to four and one-half inches for nine inch cove siding, to five inches for ten inch cove siding, to four inches for eight inch bevel siding, and to five inches for ten inch bevel siding. The tool as described allows a user to score marks into siding so that there is no need to use a cutter such as tin snips or a knife blade to make horizontal cuts in the siding material, thereby reducing a risk of an irregular or misaligned cut. Further, the time required for cutting a section of siding is reduced compared to the use of tin snips or a knife blade. A disadvantage of the Bouska et al tool, was that the siding had to be off the building in order for the tool to be used. This made the Bouska et al tool unsuitable for use when making repairs. The form of alignment guides with the illustrated embodiments, enables proper alignment when doing repairs. 
     It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the Claims.